Welcome to Point Park University

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Where It All Comes Together

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to Point Park University, one of the most dynamic, urban universities in the country. My name is Halley and I'm your tour guide today. Our vibrant Downtown Pittsburgh campus is where it all comes together.

Before we get started, let me explain the many ways in which you can explore our campus.

-To jump to the next destination, select the "Next" button on the right side of your screen.

-Or, if you already know where you want to go, simply select that location from the list on the sidebar OR directly on the map below.

-And remember to explore each destination in more detail by clicking the interactive icons included throughout each location.

We're beginning our tour in Village Park, a welcoming space that serves as an outdoor hub of campus. Village Park is the place to be for everything from evening concerts and festivals to pop-up cafes and farmers markets. Just next to Village Park, get your caffeine fix at Point Perk, the campus coffee shop that proudly serves Starbucks coffee. Also joining us on a few tour stops is our mascot, Black Diamond, the lovable bison that can be found firing up crowds at athletic events. Go Pioneers!

Academic Hall

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The next stop on our tour is Academic Hall, which is home to the School of Education and its two maker space classrooms for STEM instruction. It is also home to the School of Arts & Sciences and two of its four departments: *criminal justice and intelligence studies, and natural sciences and engineering*. Academic Hall has many classrooms, science and engineering labs, computer labs and photography facilities. The admission offices for traditional undergraduate and international students can also be found in Academic Hall.

Thayer Hall

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From Academic Hall, walk through a doorway near the second-floor elevators to access Thayer Hall, which is a 10-story building that serves as a residence hall for first-year students on floors three through eight. The first floor of Thayer has the offices of financial aid and student accounts, and the office of graduate admission. Computer labs, the IT Help desk, the registrar's office, Department of Community Engagement and the School of Communication are also located in Thayer Hall.

Lawrence Hall

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With 21 floors, Lawrence Hall is one of Point Park's largest and most active campus buildings. It serves as one of the primary residence halls for first-year students and offers two separate dining options - The Point Cafe and a buffet-style dining room, found on floors 2 and 3, respectively. It's home to the departments of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Literary Arts and Social Justice, and houses the Honors Program, the University Counseling Center and offices for the Conservatory of Performing Arts. On the first floor, don't forget to check out Point Park's official bookstore to pick up textbooks, classroom supplies and all your Pioneer gear!

Living on Campus

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Living on campus provides safe and convenient access to all of Point Park in and outside the classroom. First-year students typically live in Lawrence and Thayer Halls. Thayer's air-conditioned rooms are doubles or triples, and each floor has a community bathroom. Lawrence's rooms are singles, doubles and triples, and each includes a private bathroom. Sophomores usually reside in the suites of Conestoga Hall where each suite has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a kitchenette. While suite bedrooms are same-gender, the suites may be co-ed at the request of all occupants. Juniors and seniors reside in the Boulevard Apartments which feature large living rooms, full kitchens with a dining area, large bathrooms shared by two people and free laundry facilities on each floor. With a variety of residence hall choices on campus, Point Park is looking to ensure that you're comfortable in your home away from home.

Let's Eat!

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Food options are an essential part to a college experience and Point Park provides three convenient on-campus dining locations. The Lawrence Hall Dining Room features a balance of upscale American entrees, ethnically-inspired foods, vegan and vegetarian selections. The Point Café, also located in Lawrence Hall, offers grab-and-go, and made-to-order menu selections including coffee, fresh salads, deli sandwiches, and a wide selection of grill items. The Café offers an app to easily place a mobile order ahead of time to ensure your food is ready when you are. Point Perk is the campus coffee shop and serves your favorite Starbucks beverages, hot food options, and a selection of snacks. Venture off-campus to take advantage of dozens of nearby restaurants in Downtown Pittsburgh's flourishing dining scene. From multicultural cuisine to gastropubs, there's a limitless variety of options minutes away from campus.

George Rowland White Performance Center

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Just beyond the Lawrence Hall Art Gallery is the George Rowland White Performance Center. This four-story Gold LEED-certified building is one of the few green arts facilities in the Pittsburgh region and has eight dance studios for classes, rehearsals and performances. These spacious studios have grand pianos, state-of-the-art sound systems and heating and cooling systems. On the first floor, the GRW Performance Studio can be converted into a performance space that seats 188 people. The center has lockers, showers, changing spaces and bike racks to maximize convenience for students as they prepare for their next show and for their future.

Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University

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Just around the corner on Forbes Avenue, you'll find Point Park University's award-winning Pittsburgh Playhouse. It's a state-of-the-art learning and entertainment hub for the entire campus and invites the community to attend productions and series throughout the year. The Playhouse has three performance spaces - the PNC Theatre with 550 seats, the Highmark Theatre with 200 seats, and the smaller Black Box Theatre with up to 99 seats. The three theaters are supported by fully equipped scene, prop, costume and paint shops, as well as four rehearsal studios and ample dressing room space. A 2,738 square foot soundstage allows students to practice audio and lighting work, cinematography, and aesthetics. While the soundstage operates as a classroom, professional filmmakers also have the opportunity to use the space, providing additional experience to students. Next time you're in Pittsburgh, be sure to check out the Playhouse schedule to catch a world-class performance!

University Center

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Connected to the Playhouse on Wood Street is the University Center, a former bank with amazing architecture. Inside the University Center is the Point Park library along with UView, the student-run television station, the George Rowland White Theater, classrooms, computer labs and offices. The Department of Cinema Arts is located in the University Center, as is Student Production Services, where students may check out equipment to complete their assignments and projects. One spot not to miss in the University Center is the brass bank vault on the lower level. Some students find it a great place to study or even take a nap!

Experiential Learning

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Innovative classrooms, dynamic extra-curricular activities and professional cooperative education opportunities are a part of what prepares students for work and life. Whether it's our makerspace classrooms, cutting-edge labs and media studios, crime scene investigation house, or state-of-the-art performance spaces, the classroom experience at Point Park embeds students in their chosen field from day one. The four-year Pathway to Professional Career-Readiness that students follow culminates with internship and co-op opportunities that allows students to gain real-world experience, build a professional network and earn college credit at the same time. Point Park's location in the heart of Pittsburgh provides opportunities for students to connect with Downtown companies such as PPG, BNY Mellon, U.S. Steel, UPMC and Highmark.

Get Involved!

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An essential part of the Point Park student experience is getting involved in whatever you're passionate about. The Student Center, located on the Boulevard of the Allies, offers a full array of activities and amenities for our students. The fitness area has a range of workout equipment and an indoor track, while the rec area has Ping-Pong and pool tables. The Student Center also serves as a hub for dozens of student clubs and organizations – anything from student government and the chess club to a variety of affinity groups and if you don't find what you're looking for, start your own club! These student-run groups provide opportunities for social interaction, recreation, leadership training, and the enhancement of academic and recreational interests. The Student Center also houses the Office of Student Affairs, Athletics, Student Health Center, the Campus Activities Board and United Student Government, plus the veteran and military lounge.

West Penn Hall

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Located at the end of Wood Street, West Penn Hall is home to the Rowland School of Business. Along with SMART classrooms, student lounges and computer labs, West Penn houses the Michael P. Pitterich Sales & Innovation Center, a state of-the-art facility that features three sales simulation spaces, a conference room space and a technology-enhanced training room. West Penn also has cinema arts facilities, including a 30-foot screening room and an animation production space. The building is also home to the Center for Media Innovation and the University Advising Center, which provides academic resources and assistance to students. We'll take a closer look at the Center for Media Innovation in our next stop.

Center for Media Innovation

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The Center for Media Innovation, located in West Penn Hall, combines the latest technologies with time-tested best practices for storytelling, creating a working laboratory for students and professional journalists. The Center features a professional-quality control room and three studios for video production, podcasting and audio production, and photography. A dozen digital monitors, including a 90-inch screen in a multimedia classroom, tie all the spaces together in a central bullpen area for collaboration. The dynamic physical space allows for events with media leaders and public forums. As the media business rapidly evolves, the Center prepares students and practitioners to be industry leaders. At Point Park, we are media Pioneers.

Go Pioneers!

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Point Park Athletics sponsors 18 varsity sports teams that call home to a mix of on- and off-campus facilities. In an exciting new chapter of Point Park Sports, the Pioneers have been invited to join the Mountain East Conference, a NCAA Division II league, beginning in Fall 2024. The Student Center Gym is the home court of Pioneers volleyball as well as a training area for many Point Park teams, including men's and women's basketball. The esports teams also have their facility in the building. The men's and women's soccer teams play home matches across the river at Highmark Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and a breathtaking city view as its backdrop. Visit pointparksports.com for more information. Go Pioneers!

Safe and Sound

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Point Park students can expect a holistic approach to safety, health and well-being on campus. The University Police department is at work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide a safe, secure living and learning environment for the University community. Point Park's police officers patrol the campus and are highly visible throughout the area. The University nurse staffs the student health center and provides high-quality, inclusive health care to the campus community. The University Counseling Center offers mental health services at no cost to enrolled students, and the university's partnership with Joon Care insures mental health care is always available to students in a convenient virtual format. Students are supported and encouraged to take advantage of these resources to navigate their journey at Point Park.

Our Dynamic Downtown Campus

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Point Park University's campus resides in the heart of the vibrant, downtown area of Pittsburgh, giving students opportunities to experience all a world-class city has to offer. The golden triangle is home to hundreds of shops and eateries, six professional theaters, four professional sports teams and miles of riverfront trails. On any given day, students are able to head to the Cultural District to take in a show, walk across a bridge to the North Shore to cheer on the Pirates or Steelers or take a stroll over to Point State Park to get some outdoor exercise and admire Pittsburgh's iconic views from the 'The Point.'

Admission and Aid

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We wrap up our virtual tour today where many in-person visits to campus begin, the admissions welcome center in Conestoga Hall. The welcome center serves as a first stop for official campus visits, and is a great place to begin learning about the application and enrollment process. Point Park offers rolling admission, no application fee or deadlines, and is test-optional for first- year students from the United States. Generous financial aid and lower tuition costs than many competitors ensures a Point Park education is affordable. 99 percent of Point Park students receive financial aid. Use the tools available here to apply, request information, or schedule and in-person visit to campus today!

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Welcome to Point Park University

﻿Where It All Comes Together

Tour stop audio transcript

Academic Hall

Tour stop audio transcript

Thayer Hall

Tour stop audio transcript

Lawrence Hall

Tour stop audio transcript

Living on Campus

Tour stop audio transcript

Let's Eat!

Tour stop audio transcript

George Rowland White Performance Center

Tour stop audio transcript

Pittsburgh Playhouse at Point Park University

Tour stop audio transcript

University Center

Tour stop audio transcript

Experiential Learning

Tour stop audio transcript

Get Involved!

Tour stop audio transcript

West Penn Hall

Tour stop audio transcript

Center for Media Innovation

Tour stop audio transcript

Go Pioneers!

Tour stop audio transcript

Safe and Sound

Tour stop audio transcript

Our Dynamic Downtown Campus

Tour stop audio transcript

Admission and Aid

Tour stop audio transcript

Where It All Comes Together