June 19, 2000

PITTSBURGH - The John M. and Gertrude E. Petersen Events Center will dramatically enhance the quality of student life at the University of Pittsburgh, providing the campus with a location for graduation ceremonies, modern recreation and fitness facilities, and a state-of-the-art home for the Pittsburgh Panthers men's and women's intercollegiate basketball programs. The Petersen Center is expected to become a major hub of activity for the University's upper campus.

Petersen Events Center will contain: a 12,500-seat arena, including four luxury courtside suites, a luxury courtside special events suite, 48 courtside seats, 12 luxury club level suites, a club lounge, and 2000 private club seats, an extensive student recreation center, the Willis Center for Academics for student-athletes, which will provide academic support for University of Pittsburgh student-athletes, athletic department administrative offices, food service facility, retail store, and full-service ticket operations center, a private basketball complex.

Funding for the project includes a $38 million commitment from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a $10 million gift from John and Getrude Petersen. A 1951 graduate of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in business administration, John Petersen is the retired president and chief executive officer of the Erie Insurance Group. While an undergraduate at Pitt, he lived on campus and lettered as a member of the swimming and diving team. The Petersens have maintained a strong relationship with the University over the years, supporting scholarships and other activities in the College of Business Administration and the Department of Athletics.

The architects for the project are Apostolou Associates of Pittsburgh and Rosser International of Atlanta, GA. The center is being constructed under the auspices of the Department of General Services of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.