The basement of the Student Center is under construction after its remodeling into the Professional Career Readiness Center began in mid-July this summer.

Originally planned for April of 2023, the project was delayed due to issues with the city of Pittsburgh’s permitting process. The project is slated to be completed by mid-February, and is on track to do so. It is funded entirely by grant money both from an undisclosed source and of an unknown amount. It will not directly cost the university anything, and student tuition will not be raised as a result of the project.

Construction of the Professional Career Readiness Center will have minimal environmental implications, as it takes place in an already-existing space and utilizes sustainable materials. 

Director of Planning and Projects Heather Marra said that there is more than one goal with this project. 

“First and foremost, it is to provide the university with a beautiful new Professional Career Readiness Center,” Marra said. “Which includes an open collaborative space for students and alumni, a multipurpose room for meetings and training, interview rooms and offices and accessible restrooms at the lower level.” 

Marra said that another goal is to provide an updated entrance to the Student Center.

“Another goal is to provide an updated and welcoming atmosphere upon entering the building,” Marra said. “The glass tunnel will be replaced with brightly painted walls, to the right wll be a glass railing and new stair that connects to the Professional Career Readiness Center. It will be open, bright, and quite a remarkable change for the building.”

Vice President of Operations Chris Hill said that this project further promotes the mission of the university.

“The mission of the university is to make sure students are career-ready,” Hill said. “We wanted an area where students can work on resumes and prepare for interviews, but also where prospective companies and businesses can come in and interview them, like a job fair.”

The project aims to bring more student focus to the Student Center, and help upperclassmen and graduate students prepare themselves for their careers.

Sophomore photography major Kameron Barnard said that the construction does not really affect them.

“I just walk to Academic Hall and back,” Barnard said. “I am excited to see what they’re doing. I am going to miss it [the old entrance], but I think the change is good.”

Emily Prisinzano, a freshman cinema arts major, said that the construction also does not impact them much.

“I don’t really go over there, so it hasn’t impacted me,” Prisinzano said. “I’m pretty neutral on it… I don’t know if it will do much for the university.”

Zoe Wright, a freshman forensic psychology major, said that it would have been nice to have an actual usable pool in the Student Center.

“I think that the renovations will probably be nice, but I think it would have also been nice to have a pool,” Wright said. “I think it would’ve been been more beneficial to just renovate the pool.”

Nick Buono, a freshman cinema production major, said it is “a little annoying” to use the rear entrance of the Student Center.

“It’s a little annoying, but I think when it’s done, it will be be pretty cool,” Buono said. 

There is a monthly newsletter that is emailed to students, providing updates on construction of the Professional Career Readiness Center. It includes before and after pictures, as well as facts about the construction of the Center.