Email to Campus Community
October 19, 2017
Dear Members of the CMU Community,
The $20-million upgrade of central teaching and learning spaces across the Pittsburgh campus, announced this summer by President Farnam Jahanian with the support of the Board of Trustees, will get underway this winter with renovations in Porter Hall classrooms, and a remaking of the lecture hall space in the Adamson Wing of Baker Hall.
Porter Hall Classrooms
At the recommendation of the steering committee and working group, classroom renovation will begin over Winter Break, 2017, in 19 Porter Hall classrooms on the A Level, 1st Floor and 2nd Floor. The scope of work includes some structural renovation, upgrades to existing audio/visual systems, lighting, window treatments, flooring, furniture and finishes. These 19 classrooms will be back online for use in the Spring 2018 semester.
Adamson Wing 2018
The lecture hall portion of the Adamson Wing will be reconfigured to encourage faculty and student engagement, innovation, and collaboration. Depending on the availability of alternate spaces during construction, the project will take place either through the spring and summer, or through the summer and fall. Improvements will include new audio/visual systems, lighting, HVAC, improved classroom function, accessibility, acoustics and aesthetics. In addition, the project will remake Adamson Wing entrance spaces, A36A and 136A.
The renovation of teaching and learning spaces will overhaul dozens of the most heavily used spaces in historic campus buildings such as Baker, Porter, Doherty, Wean and Posner Halls, in addition to GSIA, Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall, Mellon Institute and the College of Fine Arts. This project, which is being undertaken on an aggressive timetable to provide the most immediate benefit, is part of a long-term strategy to increase investment in CMU’s core academic facilities, ensuring comfort and functionality for students and faculty, while incorporating design and technology that will create opportunities for teaching and learning innovation. Stay tuned for more updates as additional renovations get underway.
Warm Regards,
Laurie R. Weingart
Interim Provost
Rodney McClendon
Vice President for Operations