$19.5M Life Sciences Building set for debut at Pitt-Greensburg campus

The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg plans to unveil its new Life Sciences Building this week, as the spring semester gets underway at the campus in Hempfield.

An open house for the campus community Monday will be followed Thursday by a 4 p.m. public dedication ceremony and walk-through of the two-story building, hosted jointly with the Westmore­land County Chamber of Commerce.

The $19.5 million, 32,000-square-foot structure will provide new amenities and expanded space for the growing science and life sciences programs at Pitt-Greensburg. It is connected by a new chemistry wing to Smith Hall, which has housed science-­related studies since the 1970s.

The new building features health science, biology, microbiology and chemistry labs, faculty offices, a conference room and shared study space. It also is the new home of the Pitt-Greensburg nursing program, relocated from McKenna Hall.

The nursing area includes the Bud and Ellen Smail Simulation Suite and the Lawrence and Jacqualine Helkowski Tele-Health Room.

The Smail suite features two simulation rooms and a control room where faculty can program manikins with symptoms to which nursing students will respond. It provides a safe environment where the students can learn and make mistakes, followed by a debriefing with instructors.

In the tele-health room, students will use technology to practice assessing patients and providing care in remote or underserved settings.

Previously, students headed off-campus for similar learning experiences at Excela Health facilities or at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Nursing.

“Having a new state-of-the-art building where our students can earn their (Bachelor of Science in nursing) degrees in Westmoreland County means that we can admit more students into our nursing program, which is part of the University of Pittsburgh’s nationally ranked program,” said Marie Fioravanti, director of Pitt-Greensburg’s nursing program. “Our graduates will be able to serve our communities and help fill the need for more nurses, a need that is projected to grow by 6% over the next decade.”

There are 150 students enrolled in the campus nursing program. Since the program was introduced in 2017, 42 students have graduated. Another class of 30 students is expected to receive degrees this year.

About 500 students each year major in science- and health-related disciplines at Pitt-Greensburg, according to campus President Robert Gregerson. He said the new building’s seven laboratory spaces “will greatly expand our teaching and research capabilities in the sciences.”

The building includes sustainable design features, such as large windows for natural lighting. The university is awaiting confirmation of a proposed silver rating for the structure under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines.

Construction of the building began in September 2021, adding an estimated $3 million and 125 temporary jobs to the region’s economy. The project is expected to create or retain 31 permanent jobs while indirectly supporting another 112 jobs.

University investment in the building was supplemented by funding through the state Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program and contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations.

The Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation provided support for the building’s nursing and health science facilities. Naming sponsors for study areas include the Elliott Group, Dr. Guy M. and Nada L. Nicoletti and the Greensburg Foundation Family of Funds of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

Additional naming opportunities are available by contacting Jodi Kraisinger, director of university relations and institutional advancement, at kraising@pitt.edu or 724-836-9942.