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Schenley Quadrangle
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Schenley Quadrangle, as seen from its Fifth Avenue entrance. McCormick Hall is on the left, and the south wing of Holland Hall is on the right.
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| Location: | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
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| Area: | Schenley Farms Historic District |
| Built: | June 3, 1922-1924 |
| Architect: | Henry Hornbostel with collaboration from Rutan & Russell and Eric Fisher Wood |
| Governing body: | University of Pittsburgh |
| Part of: | Schenley Farms Historic District (#83002213) |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | July 22, 1983[2] |
| Designated PHLF: | 1972[1] |
Schenley Quadrangle is a cluster of University of Pittsburgh residence halls that is a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark[1] and are contributing properties to the Schenley Farms National Historic District[1][2] in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
The five residence halls are the former historic Schenley Apartments, designed by Henry Hornbostel[3], with collaboration from Rutan & Russell and Eric Fisher Wood,[3] for developer Franklin Nicola and were built between 1922 and 1924[4] at a cost of more than $4.5 million ($57.9 million in 2012 dollars[5]). Originally, the Schenley Apartments were home of Pittsburgh's well-to-do, including for a time its architect Henry Hornbostel, and consisted of 1,113 rooms in 238 apartments throughout the five buildings. The University acquired them in December 1955 at a cost of $3 million ($24.6 million in 2012 dollars[5]), and renovated them into residence halls for another $1 million $8.08 million in 2012 dollars[5]). By 1957-1958 101 female students had moved into 20 apartments in Building F (now called Brackenridge Hall).[4][5]
Schenley Quadrangle consists of five residence halls: Amos Hall, Brackenridge Hall, Bruce Hall, Holland Hall, and McCormick Hall.
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Amos Hall houses nine sororities, each floor houses a separate sorority. There are 152 upperclass women residents living in sorority suites which feature a kitchen, bathrooms, living room, and chapter room. Laundry facilities are in the penthouse. Amos Hall also features a fitness center that is available to all residents of Schenley Quadrangle. In November 2008, Pitt approved a $9.1 million renovation of Amos Hall[6] which included air conditioning, updated energy-efficient electrical and water systems, and new bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens that were redesigned to be compatible with the pre-existing architectural structure. Completed and reopened for the 2009 fall term, the input of each sorority gave every floor its own style.[7]
A PNC Bank branch on the street level of the building offers student banking services and an 24-hour ATM.[8]
The building is named for the University's dean of women from 1919 to 1941, Thrysa W. Amos.[6][7]
Brackenridge Hall houses 210 mostly upperclass men and women in four- and five-person suites. Each suite features a MicroFridge and a private bathroom. There are also a few single and double rooms that do not include a MicroFridge. Laundry facilities are located in the penthouse.
The Pitt Shop, a University owned store selling University of Pittsburgh branded clothing and merchandise, is on the street level of the building.[9]
The building is named for the founder of the University, Hugh Henry Brackenridge.
Bruce Hall houses 212 men and women, primarily upperclass students, in four- and six-person suites. The building is named for the first chancellor after the University was renamed from the Pittsburgh Academy to the Western University of Pennsylvania, Robert Bruce.[10] Bruce Hall served as a university office building until those offices were moved into Posvar Hall thereby allowing Bruce Hall to be converted into housing suites beginning in 1978.[11]
Basement and First Floor The basement and first floor of Bruce Hall are actually on the street level with Forbes Avenue, and are rented out to The UPS Store and 7 Eleven.
Second Floor The second floor is the main entrance for residents, as well as the location of the University of Pittsburgh Residence Life offices.
Third Floor The third floor houses the sorority Theta Phi Alpha.
Fourth through Eleventh Floors The fourth through eleventh floors are entirely student suites. Each floor has 6 suites, 5 4-person suites and 1 six-person suite with laundry facilities on each floor. The 6-person suites on the upper floors have an exceptional view of the Cathedral of Learning, Schenley Plaza, and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History out of the common room's windows.
Twelfth Floor The twelfth floor is home to the University's catering service, as well as a meeting room in suite 1201 reserved for activities held by the President or Vice President of the University.[12] It was usually impossible to get to the twelfth floor without an elevator key, although recently access to the twelfth floor has not been as restrictive as in the past.
A five bedroom, four-bath suite on the twelfth floor of Bruce Hall also once served as the University's chancellor residence.[8]
The Ghost of 1201 Bruce Hall Many students and university employees, as well as various outside sources, believe that a ghost or two haunts the 1201 suite of Bruce. The owner of the Schenley Apartments once lived with his family on the twelfth floor. Rumor has it that his mistress and/or wife committed suicide in the 1201 by either hanging herself or throwing herself out the window. Students and staff have reported hearing footsteps in the stairwells and the halls, as well as a woman's voice, while some have reported poltergiest-like activity.[13] Others have heard stories of the elevators not stopping on their floor, and continuing up to the twelfth floor and refusing to go back down.[14] Traditionally referred to as "Harriet," the ghost, for which Pitt staff have even hung Christmas stockings for,[15] has only been known to visit the 12th floor, the 11th floor, and suite 8A on the 8th floor, where she is said to have lived.
Holland Hall is divided into two wings, North and South, and houses 600 upperclass and first-year women in single, double, triple, and quad accommodations. There is a kitchenette on each floor as well as communal bathrooms and showers. The penthouse features a lounge, study area, and laundry facilities. It originally served as a men's dormatory.[16]
Since January, 1960, The University Book Center has been located on the ground floor of Holland Hall, accessible from either the Schenley Quadrangle or from Fifth Avenue.[17] At the time of its opening, it was hailed as the largest college bookstore in the nation.[18]
Holland Hall is named after University Chancellor William Jacob Holland, who led the University from 1891 to 1901 when it was known as the Western University of Pennsylvania.
McCormick Hall houses 132 mostly upperclass men and women in two-, three-, five-, and seven-person suites. Each suite features a kitchenette with refrigerator and one or more private bathrooms. Laundry facilities are available in the penthouse. Adjoining McCormick Hall is the William Pitt Union. [19]
McCormick Hall is named after Samuel B. McCormick who served as University Chancellor from 1904-1921 during which time the University moved from Pittsburgh's North Side to its current location in Oakland and also changed its name from the Western University of Pennsylvania to the University of Pittsburgh.
When still the Schenley Apartments, the buildings were simply named "A", "B", "C", "D", and "F". After their acquisition by the university for student residences, they were eventually renamed for important figures in the university's history.
| Preceded by University Club |
University of Pittsburgh Buildings Schenley Quadrangle Constructed: 1922-1924 |
Succeeded by Thackeray Hall |
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