Schenley Quadrangle
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| Schenley Quadrangle | |
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| (U.S. Registered Historic District Contributing Property) |
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| Location: | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Area: | Schenley Farms Historic District |
| Built/Founded: | 1924 |
| Architect: | Henry Hornbostel with collaboration from Rutan & Russell and Eric Fisher Wood |
| Added to NRHP: | July 22, 1983[1] |
| NRHP Reference#: | 83002213 |
| Governing body: | University of Pittsburgh |
Schenley Quadrangle is a cluster of University of Pittsburgh residence halls that is a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark[2] 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 in 1924 at a cost of more than $4.5 million. 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, and renovated them into residence halls for another $1 million. 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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[edit] Amos Hall
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.
A PNC Bank branch on the street level of the building offers student banking services and an 24-hour ATM.[4]
The building is named for the University's dean of women from 1919 to 1941, Thrysa W. Amos.[6][7]
[edit] Brackenridge Hall
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.[5]
The building is named for the founder of the University, Hugh Henry Brackenridge.
[edit] Bruce Hall
Bruce Hall houses 214 men and women, primarily first-year 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.[6]
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[7]. 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 have reported hearing footsteps in the stairwells and the halls, as well as a woman's voice. 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[8]. Traditionally referred to as "Harriet," the ghost 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.
[edit] Holland Hall
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.
The University Book Center is on the ground floor of Holland Hall, accessible from either the Schenley Quadrangle or from Fifth Avenue.[9]
Holland Hall is named after University Chancellor William Jacob Holland who lead the University from 1891–1901 when it was known as the Western University of Pennsylvania.
[edit] McCormick Hall
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. [10]
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.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Alberts, Robert C. (1987). Pitt: The Story of the University of Pittsburgh 1787-1987. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN 0-8229-1150-7.
- Starrett, Agnes Lynch (1937). Through one hundred and fify years: the University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press.
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-09). Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
- ^ Internet Archive: Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation: PHLF Plaques & Registries (2007-01-27). Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
- ^ Kidney, Walter C. (2005). Oakland (Images of America). Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, pp. 61. ISBN 0-7385-3867-1.
- ^ Amos Hall. pitt.edu. Retrieved on 13 June 2007.
- ^ Brackenridge Hall. pitt.edu. Retrieved on 13 June 2007.
- ^ Bruce Hall. pitt.edu. Retrieved on 13 June 2007.
- ^ Use of University Suite, Room 1201, Bruce Hall. pitt.edu. Retrieved on 24 October 2006.
- ^ Pittsburgh Ghosts - 1201 Bruce Hall. about.com. Retrieved on 23 October 2006.
- ^ Holland Hall. pitt.edu. Retrieved on 13 June 2007.
- ^ McCormick Hall. pitt.edu. Retrieved on 13 June 2007.
[edit] Gallery
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 A view across Schenley Quadrangle from the Forbes Avenue entrance across to Fifth Avenue. The very edge of Brackenridge Hall can be seen on the left and the edge of McCormick Hall on the right. On the Fifth Avenue side of the Quad is Holland Hall (left) and Amos Hall (right). Across 5th Avenue Thackeray Hall (left) and the University Club (right) can be seen. |
| Preceded by University Place Office Building |
University of Pittsburgh Buildings Schenley Quadrangle Constructed: 1924 |
Succeeded by Thackeray Hall |
