Pitt trustees approve $37M in renovations; university to lease space at Energy Innovation Center
The Property and Facilities Committee of the University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees voted Thursday to approve $37 million for two renovation projects, as well as three building leases.
One of the leases covers a 15-year term at the Energy Innovation Center to house three energy-related laboratories for the university’s Swanson School of Engineering as well as incubator space for up to six innovation projects.
The university’s lease with EIC, located in the Hill District, begins Dec. 31, 2015, at an initial cost of $311,550. Other leases approved by the committee include a five-year renewal and three five-year renewal options for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute for its space at UPMC Shadyside and a five-year renewal for Pitt’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence for its facilities at the Parkvale Annex Building in Oakland.
A $34 million addition and renovation project for Parran and Crabtree Halls also was approved as part of the university’s 12-year facilities plan. The project will involve a complete renovation of all nine floors of Parran Hall, including upgrades to the mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems; new fire alarm and sprinkler systems; a new security system; and upgrades to the restrooms to become ADA compliant, according to Pitt.
An additional $3 million in laboratory renovations was approved for the Department of Chemistry in Eberly Hall to create a sensor-testing laboratory for research on carbon nanomaterials. This will double Pitt’s current lab space for this type of research.