Duquesne seeks amendment to institutional master plan to relocate health sciences building

Duquesne University presented a proposed amendment to its institutional master plan at a Pittsburgh City Council Cablecast public hearing on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, asking council to approve a site change that would relocate a planned mixed‑use academic building across Forbes Avenue and accommodate a new Rangos School of Health Sciences facility.

Anthera Tandon, a principal planner in the Department of City Planning, told the council that the Planning Commission on May 20, 2025, issued a positive recommendation on council Bill 20 25 18 97, subject to one condition: "The Department of Mobility and Infrastructure or DOMI shall approve the traffic impact study, which must be submitted with the building development application for the proposed mixed use building prior to the issuance of the record of zoning approval." Tandon also said property owners within 150 feet were notified and on‑site notices were posted 21 days before the hearing, as required by the zoning code.

Joseph Adatori, a representative of A.U. Works speaking on behalf of Duquesne University, described the project and timeline. He said the university anticipates a building footprint of roughly 10,000 to 30,000 square feet, a total floor area of about 80,000 gross square feet, and a height of roughly three to six stories. Adatori said some functions, including a recently renovated anatomy lab, would remain in the existing facility, and that the university aims to have the project designed and constructed in time for the fall 2028 semester.

Adatori described the proposed site as an existing surface parking lot and said the university had adjusted other projects in its 10‑year plan to improve daylighting and campus layout. He said the project's parking analysis was aligned with Eco Innovation District goals and planned bus rapid transit (BRT) development along the corridor.

Council members asked few questions. One council member expressed appreciation for early outreach and said the change did not represent a substantial alteration from the prior plan; no members registered substantive objections during the hearing. The clerk reported there were no registered public speakers for this item. Councilman Gross indicated he had no questions.

There was no council vote at the hearing. Next steps spelled out in the Planning Commission recommendation and in staff comments require submission of a traffic impact study and DOMI approval with the building development application before a record of zoning approval can be issued. The amendment would return to council action at a later date for formal consideration.