The first of several opportunities for people to give input on how Pitt should update its Campus Master Plan for Oakland will take place Sept. 4 and 5.
The 30-year campus master plan was launched in 2018. Chancellor Joan Gabel’s arrival at Pitt last year prompted the administration to take another look at the master plan, along with the Plan for Pitt.
Pitt’s Office of Planning, Design and Construction is leading the effort and has brought on a design consulting firm, Sasaki, to develop the plan based on Pitt’s internal needs and the impacts of societal changes, such as those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Campus Master Plan forums are open to everyone. They will be:
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6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 4 at Hillman Library near Saxby's
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11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 5 concurrently at Petersen Events Center near the food court and Scaife Hall near Panera.
The events will follow a casual format where participants can interact with the consultant team and explore displays related to different topics like accessibility, open space and student life.
Additional opportunities to participate include a survey, which will be released on Sept. 3, and more campus forums in October and March. Find more details on the Engagement page of the Campus Master Plan website.
This is the second phase of the updating process. A steering committee was formed in the spring.
The steering committee includes administrators from Facilities Management, Engagement and Community Affairs, Athletics, Student Affairs, the Office of the Provost and more. There also is a faculty representative — David Salcido, assistant professor of emergency medicine and co-chair of the Senate’s Campus Utilization, Planning and Safety Committee — and staff member — Caitlyn McCullough, web content manager for the School of Public Health and parliamentarian of Staff Council.
Phase III (January-April 2025) — Stakeholder input will drive the development of actionable recommendations to enhance the plan.
Phase IV (May-December 2025) — A comprehensive Campus Master Plan draft will be developed, then reviewed by and presented to the Board of Trustees
The updated plan will take into consideration the University’s commitments to sustainability, accessibility, mobility, engagement and outdoor connectivity initiatives, and also align with the updated Plan for Pitt.
The Campus Master Plan, when finalized in December 2025, will inform how all decisions related to campus development and maintenance will be made for years to come. Updates and information can be found at campusplan.pitt.edu.
— Susan Jones
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