LEED Platinum Certified, 2025
Hillman Library, located in the heart of the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus, is the largest of the University’s 17 libraries and is primarily focused on the humanities and social sciences.
The 240,000-square-foot building has undergone renovation in four phases, introducing a new light-filled atrium entrance, large study areas, group study rooms, a significantly expanded café with indoor and outdoor seating, a digital interactive wall, an expanded Open Lab, an accessible ramp on the Forbes Avenue side, and more.
Across all four phases, the renovation spans 250,000 square feet and has earned LEED Platinum certification.
Green Building Highlights
- Biophilic design, bringing nature, sunlight, and natural materials and colors indoors.
- New efficient building lighting systems.
- Replacement of all perimeter single-pane windows, improving insulation and energy efficiency.
- Bird safe glass, helping birds avoid building.
- Mechanical system upgrades, improving energy efficiency.
- Reconfiguration of shelving units to facilitate compliance with accessibility requirements.
- Abatement of asbestos fireproofing.
- New accessible ramp off of Forbes Avenue.
- New green roof patios with native plants.
- 133.7 kW rooftop solar array, featuring 242 photovoltaic panels expected to produce nearly 169,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually.
- 87% of the total waste from the project was diverted from the landfill through recycling and material salvage.
- Rainwater from the roof is collected and reused for the University's chilled water system.
- Low flow plumbing fixtures and features helped reduce indoor water consumption by 36.52% throughout the library.
Architect: GBBN
Civil Engineer: Gateway Engineers
Mechanical Engineer: CJL Engineering
Construction Manager: PJ Dick
LEED Consultant: evolve environment::architecture
Solar Installer: EIS
