New improvements, dance floor slated for 2008 in WPU

During the summer months, the typical school-year flood of students and visitors filling the… During the summer months, the typical school-year flood of students and visitors filling the floors of the William Pitt Union is reduced to a mere trickle.

But this is not the only change affecting the former Schenley Hotel building this month.

Instead, debris litters the hallways of three floors in the building, with remnants of age-old tile floors leading the pathway down orange paint-striped walls that will soon be no more.

Three major renovations will gut the sixth, eighth and basement levels of the Union this summer, bringing new offices and a revamped gaming-and-gathering center to students and student organizations.

The basement of the Union, which previously boasted a student lounge and food services, including a Freshens smoothie shop, a Pizza Hut Express, a sub shop and an eating area, will be renovated to include a new student recreation area with electronic games and a non-alcoholic bar, according to University spokesman John Fedele.

Seven stories up from the basement construction work, the sixth floor is in the process of becoming Pitt’s cross-cultural and leadership center.

This area will host conference rooms and offices for University cross-cultural programs and will also have leadership training rooms.

It formerly was the stomping grounds of various Pitt student organizations, such as the Student Government Board, Rainbow Alliance, Campus Women’s Organization and Black Action Society.

On the eighth floor, student government officers and advisers will find a new home alongside the study abroad office complex,.

The rooms and hallways vacated by Pitt’s former Semester at Sea office will be turned into offices for SGB, the College of General Studies Student Cabinet and other graduate and professional student organizations, creating a “governmental corridor,” according to the University Times.

The renovations will total $2.975 million. The University will receive close to half of the funding for the project from Student Affairs. The Provost reserves will contribute $500,000.

Debts, titled the fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008 Provost programmatic education and general debts, will add up to foot the immediate bills for the renovations. Due to the renovations the fiscal year 2007 will have $500,000 worth of debt, and next fiscal year will have $725,000.

The University will spend $70,180 annually in operating costs including debt services to cover the debt incurred by the project.