News
Sep 19, 2025 _ news
Ribbon Cut at University of Pittsburgh’s Hillman Library
The ribbon has been cut on the multi-year, multi-phase transformation of the University of Pittsburgh’s Hillman Library. The renovation of this Mid-Century icon, and its new entry addition, help re-position the library from a place for books to a light-filled hub for students to learn, engage, collaborate, make, and study.
The renovation introduces a new three-story entrance and terrace that connects the library to Schenley Plaza, inviting students and the broader community into the building. Inside, intuitive planning, flexible furnishings, and varied environments support a wide range of activity—from quiet study and peer collaboration to public programming, exhibitions, and events. “The way students learn has changed. Academic libraries are no longer merely archives for print materials or silent study halls for solitary work,” notes GBBN Principal Matthew Plecity. “Working with library leaders at the University of Pittsburgh, the project focused on supporting the dynamic, student-centered mission of today’s academic libraries.”
Making more room for students and creating the light, bright, welcoming new entry aligns with the mission of Hillman University Librarian and Director of University Library System Kornelia Tancheva: “The library should be a bridge, not just between departments, and between students and faculty, but also between the University and the public.” The completion of this final phase marks Hillman Library’s full emergence as a connective, cultural anchor at the heart of campus. Says Tancheva, “it’s even better than what I envisioned.”
Read our project case study here.
Read our insights from Hillman Library’s transformation here and here.
See more of our higher education work here.
