Trustees approve $35 million fit-out recommendation and authorize additional capital projects

The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees voted Nov. 12 to approve the Property & Facilities Committee's recommendation to proceed with the 5th & Halkett building fit-out that will consolidate the Department of Computational and Systems Biology and provide swing wet-lab space for the School of Medicine. The project was presented to the board with an estimated cost of $35,000,000 and was approved by voice vote after committee recommendation.

Jeff Marcek, chair of the Property & Facilities Committee, told trustees the committee previously authorized two capital projects and recommended the 5th & Halkett fit-out for full-board approval: phase 2 and 3 of the Allan McGee Scaife Hall expansion for the Winter Institute for Simulation Education and Research (WISER), a $13,750,000 project to add simulation and office space; and the fit-out of the 5th & Halkett Building for the Center for Excellence in Digital Education (PittEdge), a project approved by the committee at an amount not to exceed $16,000,000.

Marcek and facilities staff explained the new 5th & Halkett building will have roughly eight academic floors: seven floors will be occupied by the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (with PittEdge on the second floor), and the top two floors will house the School of Medicine, including the computational and systems biology consolidation on one floor. Trustees were told the building includes first-floor retail because that approach was part of neighborhood agreements during zoning discussions rather than a strict city requirement.

Trustees asked about the campus master plan and unused or underutilized space; campus planning staff said the master plan is proceeding and will identify underutilized spaces to better align programs and facilities.

The board's approval was recorded via a voice vote in which trustees voiced 'Aye' with no recorded opposition or abstentions in the public record of the meeting. The Property & Facilities Committee had recommended board approval for the estimated $35,000,000 project; final contractual approvals and detailed budgeting will follow the board action.