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Get the most interesting and important stories from the University of Pittsburgh.The University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees has voted to approve construction of a new first-year residence hall at Fifth and Ruskin avenues, with construction expected to begin this summer and completion targeted for fall 2028.
To help meet the Plan for Pitt goal of enrolling 22,000 undergraduates on the Pittsburgh campus by 2028, the University is developing this new residence hall on a site adjacent to the historic Music Building as part of a series of long-term housing solutions outlined in the Campus Master Plan and the Institutional Master Plan.
To find the team best suited to deliver the project, Pitt conducted a competitive design-build selection process — the first time the University has utilized this approach for proposals.
The selection process narrowed 10 potential design-build teams to three competition finalists. The competition involved University input, including site tours, meetings on safety, workforce development, extensive faculty and staff engagement, and student listening sessions.
The committee ultimately selected the team of PJ Dick, VMDO and Kimmel Architecture to bring this new housing development to life. PJ Dick has completed many projects for the University, including Fifth and Halket and the Cathedral of Learning second-floor classroom renovations. With this selection, Pitt moves forward on its first new residence hall since Nordenberg Hall opened in 2013.
“It’s an exciting moment for our Planning, Design and Construction team. The Music School site carries an iconic history and occupies a prominent position along the eastern edge of campus, surrounded by a rich and eclectic architectural fabric,” explained project manager Tony Caicco. “Once completed, this signature building will help frame the campus edge and establish a new gateway to the Fifth Avenue corridor.”
Plans for the space include retail dining, approximately 420 beds, faculty-in-residence spaces, study areas and spaces that can be flexed for use by Living Learning Communities. The building is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification by incorporating sustainable elements such as bike storage, stormwater collection, and energy and water performance that meet the University’s carbon neutrality aspirations.
In the Plan for Pitt, student success, retention and well-being are identified as central institutional priorities. The availability of high-quality undergraduate housing — particularly for first-year students — is foundational to achieving these outcomes. In fact, research and institutional experience demonstrate that first-year students who reside in university-owned housing are more likely to persist, achieve academic success and develop meaningful connections to their university community, which ultimately impacts retention and long-term student outcomes.
“Student housing should do more than provide a place to live — it should help students succeed. The design we selected creates welcoming spaces where our first-year students can study, connect and build friendships that will last long after their time at Pitt,” said Matthew Sterne, Pitt’s vice chancellor for business services. “It will be an inspiring place to begin a college journey, and this new residence hall will reflect that same sense of pride, energy and possibility for our newest students.”
Renderings courtesy of PJ Dick, VMDO and Kimmel Architecture