Pitt trustees approve $44M for host of renovation projects

A University of Pittsburgh trustees panel Friday approved about $44 million in renovation projects covering campus academic and living space as well as sports broadcast facilities to meet Atlantic Coast Conference requirements.

The largest of the projects OK’d by the property and facilities committee is a $13.8 million plan to upgrade facilities and infrastructure to support network broadcasts as required by contract with the ACC, Pitt officials said.

The work involves construction of a broadcast studio, media control rooms and other facilities at the Petersen Events Center, as well as fiber connectivity and light and power upgrades at the Petersen Sports Complex, Fitzgerald Fieldhouse and Trees Hall.

Also approved was a $10.3 million renovation of the Schenley Quadrangle structure, plaza and garage. Work will include upgrading the structural system supporting the plaza and garage, replacing the plaza deck with one more environmentally friendly and other improvements, officials said.

Other projects approved Friday include:

An $8 million renovation of 9,000 square feet of first-floor research space at the Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering. The work would provide facilities for existing, new and future

research;

A $5.9 million renovation of common bathrooms on 15 floors of Litchfield Tower C including mechanical, electrical and plumbingupgrades;

A $6 million renovation of the ninth and 10th floors of the Chevron Science Center.

In July, Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke outlined plans to make a major investmentinThePetersen Center related to the new ACC Network television channel,though she did not providea dollar figure.

A plan for the new studio to be fully in operation by August 2019 tracks with the network channel’s expected debut in fall of that year.

The studio project will be funded through bond proceeds, said Pitt spokesman Joe Miksch.

The other projects approved Friday will be paid for with plant funds, he said. Pitt did not indicate a timetablefor those projects.

The projects will be included in the university’s fiscal 2018 capital budget.