Carnegie Mellon University Scaife Hall

Carnegie Mellon University is nestled within the Pittsburgh Low Plateau, a truly unique place where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers converge in the center of the city of Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River. The Western Allegheny Plateau Ecoregion gives a broad, ecological context to draw upon, for both its plant palette and its stone and rock formations—often sandstones characterized by striations or layers. At Scaife Hall, this striped patterning was borrowed to integrate the architecture into an holistic composition while educating students and visitors about local geology and the related ecologies. The adjacent woodland character is likewise borrowed—expanded to create a strong threshold for the building using native woodland edge planting and stone boulders.

The new Scaife Hall is a 85,000 square-foot building for the Department of Mechanical Engineering that contains labs, offices, classrooms, and a cafe. It is an important cornerstone of the campus, using architecture and landscape to establish an unforgettable passage onto CMU’s grounds and restoring the site as a significant campus entry. The plaza or “Maker Courtyard” creates a memorable place for the College of Engineering to display engineering and art together and creates a social space where one had not previously existed. Students use the courtyard for gathering studying, eating, and testing out their latest engineering project. It is a pedestrian plaza first and foremost—then also provides critical service and loading territory during off hours.

The building and its landscape reflect CMU’s dedication to sustainability and wellness and is on track to receive LEED Gold certification. Stormwater is managed through detention structures, bio retention areas, and green roof areas. The site materials were selected to minimize the building impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats.

Location
Pittsburgh, PA

Owner
Carnegie Mellon University

Status
Completed 2024

Key Team Members
Hallie Boyce, Partner-in-Charge
Eve Kootchick, Project Manager

Photography by Sahar Coston-Hardy / Esto