United Student Government (USG), alongside many other student leaders, met with members of the Playhouse committee last week to acquire updates on the progression of the new Pittsburgh Playhouse that will be located on Forbes Avenue in Downtown.
USG President Julian Singleton, Vice President Andrew LeDonne, Senator Kelsey Veydt and other members sat in on this meeting in order to gather more information of what this new addition will provide for not just Conservatory of Performing Arts students (COPA), but for the entire student body.
“Basically, within this committee, we took a look at the new Playhouse, and we discussed really making it a place that is not only for COPA students,” Veydt said in the meeting Monday. “One of the things that stood out to me is that there is going to be a big student lounge on the third floor. It sounds awesome, and it will be a great place to be because, think about it, none of us really want to be in the park when it’s 10 degrees out.”
The 92,000-square-foot structure that sets to open in 2017 is not the only space anticipated to receive attention. The library will be renovated and updated, which will include the classrooms and construction of the current math lab.
Along with these changes, new spaces and additions are also in the plans.
“There will be new places to work and more space for group projects,” LeDonne said. “There will be the opportunity for cool technologies such as conference video materials and capabilities. This is going to be useful to the entire university in so many new ways.”
There will be three separate theaters that range in size. The largest of these three will seat roughly 500, the second floor theater will be able to open up, which will allow students to engage from outside, while the third floor will house the smallest space. A café will provide refreshments for those inside as well as a small area that will be available for the public.
USG is taking initiative with these plans and is seeking clubs to voice their opinion on this new project. Playhouse committee members labeled the new playhouse and the project itself as a “national laboratory,” and Singleton used that as a signifier of ideas and creativity.
“If you talk to a club leader, just ask them, ‘Hey, how do you think your club can utilize these new plans? What can you personally bring to the atmosphere?’” Singleton said to the members.
University shuttles were in question during discussion, regarding transportation to and from Oakland to Downtown.
“That is always one of the main discussion topics. I don’t think, from talking to different people, that they will run anymore, or they will just be phased out,” LeDonne said. “This is a decision that will be talked about more at a later date.”
Prior to the discussion of the Playhouse, Angela Scaramucci, Coordinator of Employer Relations at the Career Development Center, spoke to USG members about the Job Fair that took place Tuesday. Scaramucci explained that, although a fair may be focused on a certain department, there is usually opportunity for all majors.
“My role in the Career Development Center is to reach out to those companies that you want to see at the fair, so what I always encourage to students is if you want a company there that you do not see, email me and I will reach out to them and inform them about the fairs and other activities,” Scaramucci said.
If students missed the chance to attend Tuesday’s fair, Career Development offers more opportunities throughout the semester. They are involved with Senior Week where they provide different types of networking sessions to students. Scaramucci is also involved with an Internship and Job Fair at the Monroeville Convention Center on March 11. Shuttles will be provided the day of, and attendance is free with prior registration.
