Pitt to finish Amos Hall, Union construction by fall

Two of the University’s seven major construction projects should be completed in time for the… Two of the University’s seven major construction projects should be completed in time for the start of the Fall term.

The renovations to Amos Hall and the fifth floor of the William Pitt Union, which began in October, should be completed by mid-July, said Pitt spokesman John Fedele.

The nine sororities who had to move their 135 combined members from Amos Hall to Bruce Hall will return to their dormitory floors in Amos Hall.

“Amos is their home,” said Summer Rothrock, coordinator for fraternity and sorority life. “They are all obviously really excited to go back.”

Despite the fact that the construction began late because sorority presidents asked to use Amos Hall for their recruitment this past fall, there was never a concern that the building wouldn’t be completed in time, Rothrock said.

She said that the sororities were involved in the construction process. Each sorority could walk through its floor in Amos Hall at the end of the Spring semester.

Rothrock said the renovations improved the sororities’ quality of life.

Julia Lynch, a member of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, agreed that the updates were necessary.

“I don’t think the bathrooms had been touched in a really long time,” Lynch said. “That was probably one of the major problems.”

The renovations will add laundry facilities to each floor, as well as air conditioning.

Despite efforts to make the sororities comfortable in Bruce Hall by painting their letters and colors in their respective spaces, Bruce and Amos halls have some differences that make moving back to Amos even more appealing.

Union renovations to end this month

Sorority members aren’t the only students to benefit from Pitt’s renovation projects, though.

The renovations to the fifth floor of the William Pitt Union will give Pitt’s student organizations more space to hold events and meetings next fall.

Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey said that a “great deal” of the renovations will be devoted to giving students more meeting space and other formal events.

The construction, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of May, will include several conference rooms, a multipurpose room and a lounge room, which will be outfitted with Wii gaming stations.

The new rooms will also have hard floors, which can used as a dance studio space for organizations who need to rehearse routines for various events. Humphrey said many campus clubs have requested this.