40°26′33″N 79°57′15″W / 40.442583°N 79.954033°W / 40.442583; -79.954033
114-707: Hillman Library is the largest library and the center of administration for the University Library System ( ULS ) of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , United States . Located on the corner of Forbes Avenue and Schenley Drive, diagonally across from the Cathedral of Learning , Hillman serves as the flagship of the approximately 7.1 million-volume University Library System at Pitt. The University Library System (ULS)
228-608: A 10-acre (4.0 ha) site on the North Side's Observatory Hill at the location of its Allegheny Observatory . There, it constructed two new buildings, Science Hall and Main Hall, that were occupied by 1889 and 1890 respectively. During this era, the first collegiate football team was formed at Pitt in 1889. In 1892, the Western Pennsylvania Medical College was amalgamated into the university (now
342-680: A building material, particularly for monumental public structures. Some 35 of the 50 state capitol buildings in the United States are made of Indiana limestone, as are the Empire State Building , Biltmore Estate , the Pentagon and National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. Indiana limestone is a more common term for Salem Limestone , a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana , USA, between
456-418: A cluster for the site: Wesley W. Posvar Hall , David L. Lawrence Hall, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law . Design of Hillman Library was led by Celli-Flynn and Associates who served as coordinating architects. Kuhn, Newcomer & Valentour served as associated architects with Harrison & Abramovitz acting as consulting architects to the university. Dolores Miller and Associates consulted on
570-401: A design by Charles Klauder for the "tall building": an attention-getting 535-foot (163 m) tower whose great height, with open spaces all around, would suggest the "character that ought to be in an educated man." The building's "parallel lines going up and up...would express courage [and] fearlessness" and it would "unify Pittsburgh into a community conscious of its character." The cathedral
684-550: A first floor reading room that is also home to the archives of K. Leroy Irvis who was the first African American to serve as a speaker of the house in any state legislature in the United States since Reconstruction . Irvis represented Pittsburgh in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1958 to 1988. Included in the archives are Irvis' personal papers, legislative materials, campaign literature, photographs, and newspaper clippings. The 21,000 square foot room
798-552: A joint engineering institute and program with Sichuan University in Chengdu , and Pitt's School of Medicine has established an exchange program for biomedical research students with Tsinghua University in Beijing , China. In its 2023-2024 rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Pitt 67th among national universities. Princeton Review placed Pitt among its "Best Value Public Colleges", while Kiplinger rated Pitt
912-741: A major archeological research site, the Allen L. Cook Spring Creek Preserve , in Spring Creek, Wyoming . Athletic facilities of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers that are located in Oakland in the upper campus and include the Charles L Cost Sports Center , Fitzgerald Field House , the Petersen Events Center , Trees Hall and Trees Field . An approximately $ 30 million upgrade of on-campus sports facilities, starting with
1026-408: A massive influx of new students and rapid expansion of Pitt's size and scope. In the 1970s, Pitt's football team returned to greatness with a national championship season in 1976 led by Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett and continued success in the 1980s with players such as Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino . In the 1980s, significant medical research in the field of organ transplantation
1140-789: A pedagogy certification badge and a semester-long public education mentorship program. Distinguished undergraduate programs are offered through the David C. Frederick Honors College. The freshman level entry schools include the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences , the College of Business Administration, the Swanson School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing . The 2022 annual ranking of U.S. News & World Report categorizes University of Pittsburgh as "more selective". For
1254-705: A preparatory school, presumably in a log cabin , possibly as early as 1770 in Western Pennsylvania, then a frontier. Brackenridge obtained a charter for the school from the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on February 28, 1787, just ten weeks before the opening of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. A brick building was erected in 1790 on the south side of Third Street and Cherry Alley for
SECTION 10
#17328017627171368-439: A private institution, both administratively and academically, setting its own standards for admissions, awarding of degrees, faculty qualifications, teaching, and staff hiring. The university's board of trustees maintains ultimate legal authority, governance, and responsibility for the university but specifically reserves authority over selecting the university's chancellor; approval of major policies, particularly those related to
1482-640: A proper university was soon needed, and Pitt's charter was altered in 1819 to confer university status on it as the Western University of Pennsylvania . After surviving two devastating fires and several relocations, the university moved to its current location in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood, and by act of the state legislature was renamed the University of Pittsburgh in 1908. Pitt was a private institution until 1966, when it became part of
1596-594: A touchscreen that features film narratives, a photo gallery, and selections of the Woodruff family's personal scrapbook. Hillman Library is a primary setting for The Mysteries of Pittsburgh , a novel by Pitt alumnus Michael Chabon , who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2001. University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh ( Pitt ) is a state-related research university in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, United States. The university
1710-562: A track" when he stopped in mid-race in order to break out of a pack of runners and then retook the lead in a sprint to the finish, thereby becoming the first American to achieve gold in 800 m in 24 years. In 2008, the medal was removed for loan to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. , where it was part of the exhibit "State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda." After
1824-559: A university-wide Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) that includes a structured series of extracurricular programs and experiences designed to complement students' academic studies and help develop personal attributes and professional skills. Students who complete the OCC requirements receive an OCC "transcript" and a green cord of distinction to wear at commencement. Pitt offers free workshops and certification programs such as
1938-543: A variety of programs including the Panther Programs, which are course taught abroad that have been developed and are accompanied by faculty of the university; two-way exchange agreements with foreign institutions; and Pitt-recognized, third-party exchange programs. The university also offers several study abroad scholarships, including those through the Nationality Rooms program. In addition, following
2052-540: Is "cut off" flat at the top to suggest that its lines, like education, have no ending. The building was financed by donors and by a campaign to collect dimes from local school children. Bowman was a persuasive leader and although the Great Depression intervened, the Cathedral of Learning, on which construction was begun in 1926, began hosting classes in 1931 and was formally dedicated in 1937. Today, it remains
2166-550: Is a leading producer of Peace Corps volunteers. According to the Peace Corps' 2008 ranking of colleges and universities, only 14 schools in the nation produced more Peace Corps volunteers. Pitt's graduate school also ranked tenth for most alumni Peace Corps volunteers. The University of Pittsburgh has undertaken programs to improve sustainability initiatives and practices. Pitt started programs in ecology and established biological field stations in 1926. In 1990, Pitt
2280-624: Is a member of the Association of American Universities and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". It is the second-largest non-government employer in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. Pitt traces its roots to the Pittsburgh Academy founded by Hugh Henry Brackenridge in 1787. While the city was still on the edge of the American frontier at the time, Pittsburgh's rapid growth meant that
2394-510: Is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its urban Pittsburgh campus, home to the university's central administration and around 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The 132-acre Pittsburgh campus includes various historic buildings that are part of the Schenley Farms Historic District , most notably its 42-story Gothic revival centerpiece, the Cathedral of Learning . Pitt
SECTION 20
#17328017627172508-539: Is free and open to the public. Tony Smith's 1971 painted steel sculpture Light Up! can be found outside Hillman library in Forbes Quad between the library and Posvar Hall . 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics track and field 800-meter gold medalist John Woodruff , a 1939 alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh, donated his gold medal to the university in 1990. Woodruff insisted on it being displayed in
2622-601: Is intended to echo the Renaissance-style rusticated stone base of the Carnegie Library across Schenley Plaza . The interior was modeled on the style of Mies van der Rohe with warm teak and black-metal framing. Floor-to-ceiling windows that were placed at a bay window angle in order to be inconspicuous on the plane surface of the outer wall while still providing light. With five floors, seating for 1,539 students, and holding 1.9 million volumes, Hillman
2736-448: Is now the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh and began relocating departments there by 1909. The initial campus plan for the new location centered on the winning submission from a national architectural contest that incorporated a Greek Acropolis design by Henry Hornbostel for 30 buildings. However, due to financial and other constraints, only four of the buildings were constructed in this style, of which only Thaw Hall remains today. In
2850-710: Is the University of Pittsburgh 's largest library organization and is administered by the Hillman University Librarian and Director, ULS. The organization in its current form dates back to 1982, when the University combined the administration of its libraries for the Graduate Schools of Business, Public and International Affairs, and the School of Library and Information Sciences with that of the Hillman Library and its branches. From
2964-734: Is the home to the Eduardo Lozano Latin American Collection. Designed by Peruvian native Victor Beeltran to be reminiscent of a Spanish courtyard, the room has windows on three sides and contains sand-colored arches and Solomonic columns reminiscent of Churrigueresque . The Dick Thornburgh Room contains artifacts from the Dick Thornburgh Archives Collection and adjoins the Jay Waldman Seminar Room A rotating selection of John James Audubon prints from
3078-616: Is the largest of the 17 libraries on the Pitt campus. In 1996, architect Celli-Flynn and Associates and Kuhn, Newcomer & Valentour won the Timeless Award for Enduring Design from the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Architects for its design of Hillman Library. In 2013, the library began transferring some book collections from Hillman Library to the university's Thomas Boulevard Library Resource Facility in
3192-770: Is within walking distance of many recreational, cultural, and educational institutions in the Oakland neighborhood. The campus is adjacent to Schenley Plaza , the main branch of the Carnegie Public Library , the Carnegie Museums of Natural History and Art and the Carnegie Music Hall, as well as portions of Carnegie Mellon University . Carlow University is just west of campus, adjacent to the university's medical center complexes. The main quad of Carnegie Mellon University , Central Catholic High School , and historic Schenley Park , site of
3306-485: The Allegheny Observatory that was donated to WUP in 1865. Langley was professor of astronomy and physics and remained at WUP until 1891, when he was succeeded by another prominent astronomer, James Keeler . Growing quickly during this period, WUP outgrew its downtown facilities and the university moved its campus to Allegheny City (present-day North Side ). The university eventually found itself on
3420-492: The Allegheny Observatory , Posvar Hall , Salk Hall , Stephen Foster Memorial , and the William Pitt Union . In addition, a Pennsylvania Historical Marker has been placed on campus near the Cathedral of Learning to mark the significance of the University of Pittsburgh itself. Another state historical marker has been placed to highlight the significance of Pitt's involvement in the archaeological excavation at
3534-630: The Association of Research Libraries , notes that the ULS has "transformed not only [its own] school's library but also the future of research libraries." The ULS has also been noted for its publication of new digital content in its D-Scribe Digital Publishing program. The ULS partners with other University of Pittsburgh libraries including the Barco Law Library and the Health Sciences Library System , both located on
Hillman Library - Misplaced Pages Continue
3648-490: The Association of Research Libraries , the ULS ranks 22nd out of the ARL's 126 member libraries, placing it in the top 20% of North America's largest academic libraries and is the 29th largest overall library in the United States. The ULS has been commended for its use of technology, including the digitization of its unique collection and improving the accessibility of its online resources. Duane Webster, executive director emeritus of
3762-599: The Carnegie Museum of Art . Several works of Virgil Cantini are in the library, including a wood and metal sculpture of an arrow-pierced St. Sebastian , located in the first floor stairwell, and a wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a lamb. Flanking the wall opposite the first floor reference desk are two abstract works: "Modern Warfare" by Kes Zapkus and "Arcing Light" by Albert Stadler . A bronze 1934 self-portrait by Ivan Meštrović can be found on
3876-795: The Commonwealth System of Higher Education . The campus is situated adjacent to the flagship medical facilities of its closely affiliated University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and its flagship hospital, UPMC Presbyterian , as well as the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh , Schenley Park , and Carnegie Mellon University . The university also operates four undergraduate branch campuses in Western Pennsylvania , located in Bradford , Greensburg , Johnstown , and Titusville . In athletics, Pitt competes in Division I of
3990-559: The Environmental Protection Agency 's Green Powered Universities list since 2018, won multiple Sustainable Pittsburgh Challenges, and has other third-party recognitions . In 2018, the university announced its intention to buy all of the electricity from a run-of-the-river hydro power facility to be built by Rye Development at Allegheny Lock and Dam No. 2 on the Allegheny River in 2023. In 2020,
4104-532: The Great Fire of 1845 that wiped out 20 square blocks of Pittsburgh. Classes were temporarily held in Trinity Church until a new building was constructed on Duquesne Way (on what was the site of the former Horne's department store). Only four years later, in 1849, this building also was destroyed by fire. Due to the catastrophic nature of these fires, operations were suspended for a few years to allow
4218-715: The Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella, Pennsylvania . In addition, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation has designated the following Pitt buildings as Pittsburgh Historic Landmarks: Allegheny Observatory , Allen Hall , Alumni Hall , Bellefield Hall , Chancellor's Residence , Cathedral of Learning , the Cathedral of Learning interior rooms , Gardner Steel Conference Center , Heinz Memorial Chapel , Thaw Hall , Salk Hall , Schenley Quadrangle residence halls , Stephen Foster Memorial ,
4332-696: The NCAA as the Pittsburgh Panthers , primarily as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference . Founded by Hugh Henry Brackenridge as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh is one of the few universities and colleges established in the 18th century in the United States. It is the oldest continuously chartered institution of learning in the U.S. west of the Allegheny Mountains . The school began as
4446-716: The Petersen Sports Complex , includes new soccer, baseball, softball facilities, and helps clear a space for the future construction of a new track and field and band complex. Athletic facilities in Pittsburgh that are located outside of the Oakland neighborhood include Acrisure Stadium and the UPMC Sports Performance Complex . Major on-campus residence halls include the Litchfield Towers , Schenley Quadrangle , Forbes Hall , Bouquet Gardens and Ruskin Hall located on
4560-754: The Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens , lie across Junction Hollow on the east end. Four Pitt buildings are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places : Allegheny Observatory (in Pittsburgh's Riverview Park on the Northside ), the Cathedral of Learning , the Pittsburgh Athletic Association building, and the Ford Motor building . Twenty-one of Pitt's buildings (including
4674-586: The Point Breeze neighborhood of the city in order to make room for renovations that will add additional seating and group-study rooms to the library. In addition, in the Fall of 2013, the library expanded its hours so that it will be open around the clock from Sunday morning to Friday night. Hillman Library is currently undergoing a phased floor-by-floor renovation with an estimated total project cost of $ 60 million to $ 100 million. Hillman Library, which serves as
Hillman Library - Misplaced Pages Continue
4788-658: The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences ), Iroquois Building, Kaufman Medical Building, Medical Arts Building, 230 McKee Place, and UPMC University Center. UPMC academic hospitals and facilities elsewhere in Pittsburgh include the UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh campus in the Lawrenceville neighborhood, the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side , and the UPMC Shadyside and
4902-481: The Tennessee State Capitol exterior was renovated using Indiana limestone to replace the poorer-quality Tennessee limestone that had started to deteriorate. Some 15,000 cubic feet of Indiana limestone was used in the rebuilding of the Pentagon after the terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001. The new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx , which opened in 2009, extensively uses Indiana limestone paneling on its exterior facade. Indiana limestone has been particularly popular for
5016-425: The U.S. Department of Education . Pitt's National Resource Centers include Asian, European, Latin American, Russian and East European, and Global studies, as well as Pitt's International Business Center. In addition, Pitt's Asian Studies Center has been awarded status as a Confucius Institute by the Chinese Ministry of Education. Further, Pitt is home to one of just ten European Union Centers of Excellence in
5130-480: The University Child Development Center , and the William Pitt Union . Other Pitt buildings not designated individually as landmarks, but listed among the 16 Pitt-owned contributing properties to the Schenley Farms Historic District, include Clapp Hall , O'Hara Student Center , Ruskin Hall , Thackeray Hall , Frick Fine Arts Building , Music Building , and the University Club . Historic structures within, adjacent to, or near Pitt's campus, but not belonging to
5244-551: The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute in the Hillman Cancer Center (both located in the Shadyside neighborhood adjacent to Oakland). Regional campuses offer master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees at four locations in Western Pennsylvania . They also allow students to take preliminary courses and relocate to other regional campuses or the Oakland campus to complete their degrees. They offer several degrees and certificates: The University of Pittsburgh has been noted for both its role in community outreach and its impact on
5358-415: The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine ). By 1893, the university had graduated its first African-American, William Hunter Dammond . In 1895 WUP established its School of Law, and Andrew Carnegie and George Westinghouse were elected to the board of trustees, where they joined Andrew Mellon , who had been elected in 1894. The Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy and Pittsburgh Dental School also joined
5472-443: The gargoyles on the buildings of Princeton University were carved from Indiana limestone, including "Flute Player", located on the exterior of Firestone Library . Both structures of the Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail in Kenosha, Wisconsin , were built out of the limestone. This stone was used as far north as the Hotel Macdonald in Edmonton . The Nebraska State Capitol is clad in Indiana Limestone, after native limestone
5586-404: The north side of Michigan State University use Indiana limestone. The Cathedral of Learning , a 42-story neo-gothic skyscraper that is the largest educational building in the Western Hemisphere, along with other nearby buildings of the University of Pittsburgh , are clad in Indiana limestone. The St. Anthony Society Chapter House at Yale University also is built of Indiana limestone. Many of
5700-450: The state legislature's desire for it to provide more vocational training. The decision to remain committed to liberal education nearly killed the university, but it persevered despite its abandonment by the city and state. It was also during this era that the founder of Mellon Bank , Thomas Mellon (Class of 1837), graduated and later taught at WUP. The university's buildings, along with most of its records and files, were destroyed in
5814-469: The 1920s, new university chancellor John Gabbert Bowman declared that he had a vision for a centerpiece "tall building" for the university. The 14 acres (5.7 ha) Frick Acres property in Oakland was soon purchased and plans for the campus shifted focus from the hillside to a neo- Gothic Revival plan that today comprises the Cathedral of Learning , Heinz Memorial Chapel , Stephen Foster Memorial , and Clapp Hall buildings. By 1925, Bowman had settled on
SECTION 50
#17328017627175928-570: The 2020–2021 academic year, 10 freshman students were National Merit Scholars . (16% ) (49% ) The university's historic emphasis on international studies is physically present in its collection of 31 Nationality Rooms on the first and third floors of the Cathedral of Learning . Pitt is also one of the country's leading producers of both Fulbright scholars and Peace Corps volunteers, and one of fewer than 20 American universities to claim five or more area studies programs that have been competitively designated as National Resource Centers by
6042-401: The 5 residence halls that make up Schenley Quadrangle , see below) are contributing properties to the Schenley Farms-Oakland Civic Center Historic District that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district . Due to the historical nature of various sites around Pitt's buildings, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has placed historical markers outside
6156-475: The A.J. Schneider Studio Arts Award, selected from among entries in the annual student exhibition. Winners agree to allow their work to be displayed for one year in the reading room. In addition, a folk music concert series entitled The Emerging Legends Series is performed in The Cup & Chaucer café on the ground floor of Hillman Library. The series, a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh Library System and Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society,
6270-431: The Board of Trustees per year. The Board of Trustees selects the university's chancellor, who doubles as the chief academic officer and the chief executive of the university as well as serving as an ex officio voting member of the board of trustees. The chancellor is delegated with general administrative, academic, and management authority over the university. Under the chancellor are the provost and senior vice chancellor,
6384-441: The COVID-19 pandemic and has extended this through Fall 2025. Of the 49% of enrolled freshmen in 2021 who submitted SAT scores; the middle 50 percent Composite scores were 1250-1470. Of the 16% of the incoming freshman class who submitted ACT scores; the middle 50 percent Composite score was between 28 and 33. Pitt is a college-sponsor of the National Merit Scholarship Program and sponsored 3 Merit Scholarship awards in 2020. In
6498-431: The Class of 2026 (enrolled fall 2022), Pitt received 53,062 applications and accepted 26,077 (49.1%). Of those accepted, 4,399 enrolled, a yield rate (the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university) of 16.8%. Pitt's freshman retention rate is 93.4%, with 84.3% going on to graduate within six years. The university started test-optional admissions with the Fall 2021 incoming class in response to
6612-405: The Lambs were filmed in 1990, and the Stephen Foster sculpture . Many of these buildings and their facilities are integrated into the events and activities of the university. The majority of Pitt-owned facilities are clustered in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh which includes the Schenley Farms Historic District , however a few prominent facilities are scattered elsewhere throughout
6726-400: The Office of Sustainability, and hired its first director of sustainability. In 2020, Pitt committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2037 (its 250th anniversary) and its first climate action plan came out in 2022. Pitt received a AASHE STARS Gold rating in 2021, building on its Silver rating from 2018, has long been on The Princeton Review 's "Green Colleges" list, been included on
6840-415: The Pittsburgh Academy. The small two-story brick building, with a gable facing the alley, contained three rooms: one below and two above. Within a short period, more advanced education in the area was needed, so in 1819 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania amended the school's 1787 charter to confer university status. The school was named the Western University of Pennsylvania , or WUP, and was intended to be
6954-447: The Pittsburgh campus. The ULS shares a single online system with these partner libraries, collaborates with them to provide facilitated access to all collections, and cooperates on other projects to serve the University. Hillman Library was built on land that had bordered Forbes Field and was donated in the 1950s to Pitt by coal magnate J. Hartwell Hillman, Jr. When Forbes Field was razed in 1971, three other buildings were planned as
SECTION 60
#17328017627177068-501: The State capitol building, the monuments in Downtown Indianapolis , the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law , many university buildings, and the Indiana Government Center, and most of the state's 92 courthouses are all examples of Indiana architecture made with Indiana limestone. The majority of Indiana University, Bloomington , was constructed out of limestone. 1959's architecturally significant St. Augustine's Episcopal Church , in Gary, Indiana , uses Indiana limestone in
7182-445: The U.S., funded by the European Commission . The University Center for International Studies (UCIS) coordinates international education curricula, centers on topical specializations in international studies, and the centers for area studies, including the National Resource Centers, among existing faculty and departments throughout the university. It does not confer degrees, but awards certificates of attainment to degree candidates in
7296-423: The United States — such as the National Cathedral , Biltmore Estate , Empire State Building , the Pentagon , The Crescent in Dallas , and the Hotel Pennsylvania — feature Indiana limestone in their exteriors. Some 35 of the 50 state capitol buildings in the United States are made of Indiana limestone. It was used extensively in rebuilding Chicago after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The sculptural group atop
7410-533: The University of Pennsylvania, and return to its roots by identifying itself with the city, the Western University of Pennsylvania, by act of the state legislature, was renamed the University of Pittsburgh in the summer of 1908. During this time, the university had also outgrown its accommodations on what is now the North Side of Pittsburgh and its departments had been scattered throughout the city for years. To consolidate all of its components on one campus, WUP bought 43 acres (17 ha) of land in December 1907 in what
7524-465: The academic partners of the closely affiliated the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. With over 1450 employees and $ 1 billion annual revenue, UPMC is the largest non-government employer in Pennsylvania. Through the Pitt Volunteer Pool, faculty and staff members donate more than 10,000 hours annually to community service projects for agencies such as the Salvation Army, Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Pitt
7638-399: The architecture of the past speaking to the present." The campus has won multiple Green Star Awards from the Professional Grounds Management Society . The University of Pittsburgh's main campus contains four contiguous sections: upper (sports complexes, residence halls ); mid ( Benedum , Chevron , Allen and Thaw Halls ); lower ( Cathedral of Learning , Union , Posvar Hall ); and on
7752-428: The best value in Pennsylvania and thirty-sixth best nationally for out-of-state students among public universities in their 2016 rankings. The 2017 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education college rankings of American universities ranked Pitt 75th overall, and the No. 1 public college in the Northeast. Indiana Limestone Indiana limestone (also known as Bedford limestone ) is a form of limestone used as
7866-401: The campus, including its centerpiece 42-story Cathedral of Learning , falls within the Oakland Civic Center/Schenley Farms National Historic District . The campus has been noted for its impressive architecture, and contains an eclectic mix of architecture that includes Greek revival, Neogothic, Italian Renaissance, and modern. It has been termed "a theme park of replica buildings, representing
7980-437: The cities of Bloomington and Bedford . It has been called the best quarried limestone in the United States. Indiana limestone, like all limestone, is a rock primarily formed of calcium carbonate . It was deposited over millions of years as marine fossils decomposed at the bottom of a shallow inland sea which covered most of the present-day Midwestern United States during the Mississippian Period. Native Americans were
8094-432: The city, including the adjacent Shadyside neighborhood. Pitt also maintains regional Pennsylvania campuses in Bradford , Greensburg , Johnstown , and Titusville , as well as a Computer Center in RIDC Park in Blawnox , the Plum Boro Science Center in Plum , the University of Pittsburgh Applied Research Center (U-PARC) in Harmarville , and the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology in Linesville . The university also has
8208-465: The construction of university buildings. The Neo-Gothic campus of the University of Chicago is almost entirely constructed out of Indiana limestone; in keeping with the trend of post-Fire buildings using the material. The campus of Washington University in St. Louis – both for new construction and original buildings – makes use of Indiana limestone in its collegiate gothic architecture. Many buildings on
8322-484: The decision to end a 24-year sponsorship of the Semester at Sea program due to academic, administrative and safety concerns, Pitt has created a Multi-region Academic Program (PittMAP) that involves international travel, accompanied by university faculty, to three different continents for the comparative study of one of six rotating global study themes. Further, Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering has also established
8436-482: The early 1980s the library system adopted many new services and resources alongside the evolution of computer technology including, most notably, the installation and unveiling of its first online catalog based on the NOTIS integrated library system. In addition to the Hillman Library, the ULS includes the following libraries and collections on the Pittsburgh campus: The Library Resource Facility, located three miles from
8550-413: The economy of the city and the Western Pennsylvania region. In 2009, Pitt was ranked second overall, and the top public university in the nation, as a "Best Neighbor" for positive impact on its urban community, including both commercial and residential activities such as revitalization, cultural renewal, economics, and community service and development according to the "Saviors of Our Cities" ranking. Pitt
8664-496: The end of 2035. The university was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1787 and it operated as a fully private institution until an alteration to its charter in 1966 at which point it became part of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education . This conferred "state-related" status to the university making it a legal instrument of the Commonwealth which provides an annual financial appropriation, currently 7.7% of
8778-499: The fall of 1909, the university became the first college to adopt the panther as its mascot. It was also during this period that the university, led by Chancellor Samuel McCormick , again held off pressures to abandon the school's commitment to liberal education in favor of more technical-based training. During his administration, McCormick also led the university into a new level of national recognition, expansion, and growth, as well as beginning institutional support of athletics. In
8892-409: The fear of polio grew, leading to the closing of many public facilities. Meanwhile, Dr. Jonas Salk had set up the University of Pittsburgh's Virus Research Lab in the basement of what is now Salk Hall . By 1951, Salk and his team had begun immunization experiments in monkeys using dead polio virus. Soon, however, Salk began to test inoculations in paralyzed polio patients and by 1953 human trials among
9006-559: The fiduciary responsibilities of the board; and the definition of the university's mission and goals. It is made up of 36 voting members: chancellor, 17 term trustees elected by the board, 6 alumni trustees elected by the board on nomination from the Alumni Association Board of directors, and 12 Commonwealth trustees. The governor of Pennsylvania , the president pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate , and
9120-480: The first people to discover limestone in Indiana. Not long after they arrived, American settlers used this rock around their windows and doors and for memorials around the towns. The first quarry was started in 1827, and by 1929 Hoosier quarries yielded 12,000,000 ft (340,000 cubic meters) of usable stone. The expansion of the railroads brought great need for limestone to build bridges and tunnels and Indiana
9234-419: The flagship and central administrative library of the University of Pittsburgh's University Library System, holds approximately 1.5 million volumes of the 7.1 million total ULS volume collection. It also contains over 200 computer stations, a study capacity for 1500 users, and houses various special collections, themed rooms, and specialized technology study areas. $ 12.9 million in additional renovations to Hillman
9348-435: The general population were initiated. By the spring of the following year, the largest controlled field trials in medical history were underway, and by 1955 the vaccine developed by Salk and his researchers was declared effective. By 1962, Salk's vaccine had reduced the incidence of polio in the United States by 95 percent. The breakthroughs in immunology and vaccine development at Pitt by Salk and his team are considered one of
9462-434: The ground floor. A large bust of Confucius by Chinese artist Li Guangyu and a stone sculpture, "The Sound of Autumn", by Masayuki Nagare are on the second floor. Near the special collections reading room on the third floor is a selection of early 20th century illustrations in watercolor, charcoal and crayon created to accompany the work of mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart . Also on the third floor are works by winners of
9576-469: The growth of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the restructuring of its relationship with the university, and a series of disruptive bomb threats that occurred in 2012. Patrick D. Gallagher was named the 18th chancellor of the university and assumed the office on August 1, 2014. The University of Pittsburgh's main campus comprises approximately 132 urban acres (0.53 km ) located in Pittsburgh's historic Oakland neighborhood. Much of
9690-563: The heart of the Pittsburgh campus, houses many of the ULS' back-office operations in addition to the Archives Service Center and the Library Collections Storage Unit, a high-density book storage facility with a capacity of 2.7 million volumes. The libraries on the University's four regional campuses at Bradford , Greensburg , Johnstown , and Titusville also belong to the ULS. A member of
9804-664: The interior design, and Keyes Metcalf served as a library consultant. Construction began in June 1965, and the library opened on January 8, 1968, while its formal dedication was held on September 6, 1968. It is named for John H. Hillman, Jr. Both the Hillman family and the Hillman Foundation gave millions toward its construction. The facade consists of Indiana Limestone alternated with rows of oriel windows , which were designed by Max Abramovitz The building's podium wall
9918-541: The interior. The Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana , consecrated in 1991 and awarded a Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Masonry Design, uses Indiana limestone on its exterior facade. Nationally, Indiana limestone has long been part of a high-end market. It has mostly been used on the exteriors of homes and commercial and government buildings. Many prominent public buildings in
10032-414: The late 1990s in memory of their late son, A. J., a 1993 Pitt alumnus who died in a 1996 military helicopter accident. The family also created the A. J. Schneider Studio Arts Award which for Pitt studio art students. Winning entries from an annual student art exhibition are displayed in the reading room for a one-year period. The Amy E. Knapp Room is a seminar room on the ground floor of Hillman Library that
10146-727: The lower campus, Lothrop Hall on the medical campus, and Panther , Nordenberg Hall , and Sutherland halls located on the upper campus. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of America's top hospitals and consists of the following hospitals and facilities in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland , many of which have shared uses with various University departments: UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, UPMC Montefiore Hospital, Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic in Thomas Detre Hall, Eye and Ear Institute, Forbes Tower (home to
10260-407: The main façade of New York City's Grand Central Terminal — known as Glory of Commerce — is made of Indiana Limestone. (A work by Jules-Félix Coutan , it includes representations of Minerva , Hercules , and Mercury and, at its unveiling in 1914, was considered the largest sculptural group in the world. ) The original 1930s buildings of Rockefeller Center use limestone from Bedford. In 1955
10374-449: The medal's return to the university, it was placed in a new, six-foot tall wood-and-glass display on the first floor of the library. The display was unveiled during a dedication ceremony on October 14, 2011, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Woodruff's win. The medal, appraised at $ 250,000, is securely housed under bulletproof glass on a rotating illuminated pedestal. The display also contains interactive multi-media content including
10488-421: The most significant scientific and medical achievements in history. In 1966, Pitt was designated by Pennsylvania as a state-related university. As such, Pitt receives public funds ($ 154.3 million in fiscal year 2016) covering about 7% of its operating budget, and offers reduced tuition to Pennsylvania residents. Pitt retains independent control. Upon affiliation with the state, subsidized tuition led to
10602-429: The region each year (more than $ 3.60 for each $ 1 of state appropriations), and supports some 23,100 local jobs. Pitt students also spend more than $ 213 million on goods, services, and rental payments within the local economy. Pitt ranked sixth in the number of startups spawned by technologies developed by its researchers according to Association of University Technology Managers. Pitt and its medical school are
10716-472: The second tallest university building in the world and contains an equally impressive interior highlighted by a 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m ) Gothic hall Commons Room with 52-foot (16 m) tall arches currently surrounded by 31 Nationality Rooms . In the early 20th century, epidemics of polio began to hit the United States and other industrialized countries. As hospitals filled with patients in iron lungs , and tens of thousands were left disabled,
10830-863: The senior vice chancellor for health sciences, the deans of the various schools, the presidents of the regional campuses, department chairs, and the directors of university centers and institutes. The university is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools . Throughout its history, Pitt has been committed to a liberal arts education with a curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Pitt also has emphasized undergraduate research experience and opportunities such as co-ops and internships. Undergraduate degrees can be earned as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Philosophy. Along with providing certificate programs, graduate level master's, professional, and doctoral degrees are also awarded. Pitt has also initiated
10944-464: The speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives each appoints four of the 12 Commonwealth trustees. Additional non-voting trustees include 14 special trustees and additional emeritus trustees selected by the board. Non-voting ex-officio members include the governor of Pennsylvania, the secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania , the chief executive of Allegheny County , and the mayor of Pittsburgh . There are three or more regular meetings of
11058-480: The university announced a second local renewable power purchasing agreement, for solar power to be built on the border of Beaver and Allegheny counties near Pittsburgh International Airport. The university has been criticized for some of its financial investments, namely those in the fossil fuel industry. In 2020, a Board report disclosed that endowment exposure to fossil fuels had decreased 42% between 2015 and 2020, with zero private investments in fossil fuels by
11172-402: The university in 1896. In 1898, the first women, sisters Margaret and Stella Stein, graduated from the university. During this period, university engineering professor Reginald Fessenden was conducting pioneering work in radio broadcasting. By 1904, playing at Exposition Park , the university had its first undefeated football team. Citing a need to avoid confusion, distinguish itself from
11286-482: The university time to regroup and rebuild. By 1854, WUP had erected a new building on the corner of Ross and Diamond (now Forbes Avenue) streets (site of the present day City-County building ) and classes resumed in 1855. It is during this era, in 1867, that Samuel Pierpont Langley , astronomer, inventor, aviation pioneer and future Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution , was chosen as director of
11400-410: The university's copy of The Birds of America , one of only 120 complete collections in existence, is on view in the library's ground floor display case. Individual plates from this collection are exhibited for two weeks at a time in order of plate number. Many other graphic and sculptural works are nestled among the stairways and study areas on the building's upper floors, some of which are on loan from
11514-413: The university's library where it would be appreciated not just as an athletic achievement, but in its social and historical context. For years the medal was displayed in an inconspicuous location on the ground floor of Hillman Library. Woodruff's 800 m win in the 1936 games was the first for an African American in front of Adolf Hitler and was achieved in what has been called "the most daring move seen on
11628-599: The university's schools and also operates certificate programs in African Studies (undergraduate) and in Global Studies (undergraduate & graduate). UCIS also operates the Study Abroad Office, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs. Pitt's study abroad program, under the auspices of UCIS, helps to facilitate student study in over a hundred different countries, and oversees
11742-413: The university's total operating budget, in exchange for the university offering tuition discounts to students who are residents of Pennsylvania. Legally, however, the university remains a private entity, operating under its nonprofit corporate charter, governed by its independent Board of Trustees, and with its assets under its own ownership and control. Therefore, it retains the freedom and individuality of
11856-481: The university, include the Carnegie Museum buildings , Frick School , Forbes Field wall remnant, Magee Estate iron fence, the Schenley Fountain , Mellon Institute , Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens , the Pittsburgh Athletic Association , St. Paul's Cathedral , St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Schenley High School , Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall – where scenes of The Silence of
11970-412: The west end of campus, the medical center complex . The campus is bordered by Darragh Street/McKee Place to the west and Bellefield Avenue/Dithridge Street to the east; Forbes and Fifth avenues traverse the campus from west to east. Although generally within walking distance, the university also runs a bus and shuttle service between various campus locations and bordering neighborhoods. The main campus
12084-509: The western sister institution to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia . By 1830, WUP had moved into a new three-story, freestone-fronted building, with Ionic columns and a cupola, near its original buildings fronting the south side of Third Street, between Smithfield Street and Cherry Alley in downtown Pittsburgh. By the 1830s, the university faced severe financial pressure to abandon its traditional liberal education in favor of
12198-540: Was also listed as a "best neighbor" in the previous ranking released in 2006. These rankings reflect the statistics that each year Pitt spends more than $ 1.7 billion in the community and supports nearly 33,800 jobs in Allegheny County . The university is the Pittsburgh region's second largest non-government employer behind its affiliated University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Pitt's research program alone imports more than $ 822 million into
12312-707: Was approved in July, 2013. Hillman Library contains many different collections and reading spaces. Among them are: Specialized named rooms include the A. J. Schneider Reading Room, the Amy E. Knapp Room, the K. Leroy Irvis Room, the Latin American Reading Room, and the Thornburgh Room. The A. J. Schneider Reading Room on the third floor of Hillman Library was created by the Schneider family in
12426-426: Was chancellor of the university from 1995 to 2014 and led Pitt through a period of substantial progress, including a $ 2-billion capital-raising campaign that is over three quarters of the way toward achieving its goal and a $ 1-billion 12-year facilities plan. Major initiatives and events that have occurred during his tenure include the construction of the Petersen Events Center , a major expansion of on-campus housing,
12540-484: Was conducted by Thomas Starzl , establishing Pitt as the world leader in the field of organ transplantation. In 1991, chancellor Wesley Posvar retired after 24 years in office. His administration is best known for elimination of the university's debt from its 1960s financial crisis and for increasing the school's prestige and endowment. Under Posvar, Pitt's operating budget grew sevenfold to $ 630 million and its endowment tripled to $ 257 million. Mark Nordenberg
12654-447: Was dedicated on December 15, 2008 in honor of Amy Knapp, a Pitt alumnae, ULS librarian, and School of Information Sciences adjunct professor who died from cancer in 2008. The room features a plaque and portrait etching in honor of Knapp. In addition to the room, the Dr. Amy E. Knapp Award was also created to recognize individuals' service to ULS and the community. The K. Leroy Irvis Room is
12768-506: Was designed by architect Howard Graves to reflect Ivis, including his fondness of airplanes which is reflected in the ceiling design. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 's 1929 Barcelona Pavilion was used as a benchmark reference for the project. The room includes a gallery, reading area, reception area, archive storage, and administration and office space. The Latin American Reading Room located on the first floor of Hillman Library
12882-511: Was one of the first 22 signatories of the Talloires Declaration . In 2003, Pitt founded its Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation. In 2013, Pitt released its first sustainability report and in 2014 celebrated a "Year of Sustainability" by launching a Student Office of Sustainability that now has over 25 affiliated student organizations. In 2018, Pitt published its first comprehensive "Pitt Sustainability Plan", established
12996-688: Was the place to get it. American architecture of the late 19th and early 20th century included a lot of limestone detail work on buildings, but as architectural styles changed, so did the demand for limestone. Indiana limestone was officially designated as the state stone of Indiana by the Indiana General Assembly in 1971. With the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, the price of alternative building materials skyrocketed so Indiana limestone reemerged as an energy-efficient building material. Many of Indiana's official buildings, such as
#716283