On Oct. 1,
Duquesne University completed several key renovation projects and commemorated its 130th anniversary by dedicating a new public sculpture.
Designed by
WTW Architects, renovations to Duquesne’s Gumberg Library have improved access and visibility and resulted in critical structural upgrades. Interior library renovations called for creating a more effective learning and research environment, installing new shelving and computer equipment and making the building more comfortable for students.
Structural work on the $1 million project involved replacing piers, shoring up a hillside to prevent erosion and constructing a new outdoor plaza with wireless Internet access. Contractor was
Massaro Corporation.
“The spacious new entrance plaza and bridge outside the Gumberg Library is larger than the previous walkway, with room for decorative plants and more seating,” says Duquesne University president, Charles Dougherty. “Less visible, but no less important, are the structural improvements that have been made to the bridge underneath.”
Renovations to Duquesne’s 19,000-square-foot Union included enlarging its lobby, creating a new student lounge and moving the Barnes & Noble bookstore to the university’s new $35 million Power Center. The $2.5 million LEED-certified project was designed by
FortyEighty Architecture. One of the university’s busiest spots, the renovated Union also features an upgraded health services area, new computer store and admissions and counseling offices. Contractor was
Rycon Construction.
At the center of Locust St. Circle, the university installed
The Spirit of Duquesne, a steel and glass sculpture created by Pittsburgh artists Kathleen Mulcahy and Ron Desmett. Depicting an emblematic flame, the work reflects the university’s motto and founders, as well as Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage.
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Jennifer BaronSource: Charles J. Dougherty, president, and Karen Ferrick-Roman, assistant director of media relations and campus news,
Duquesne University
Image courtesy Duquesne University