Benedum Hall of Engineering to receive Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award from Pa. Society of Professional Engineers

PITTSBURGH (February 4, 2014) … Benedum Hall of Engineering, home to the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering, will be recognized by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers - Pittsburgh Chapter with its 2014 Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award. Representatives from the Swanson School will accept the award at PSPE's annual National Engineers' Week Banquet on Saturday, February 22 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Sheraton Station Square, Pittsburgh. More information is available at http://pittsburghpe.org/content/national-engineers-week-banquet. 

The award recognizes the $154 million transformation of Benedum Hall as part of the University of Pittsburgh's comprehensive $2 billion campaign. Renovations to the 15-story building, originally constructed in 1971, include a new annex housing the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, as well as new laboratory, classroom and office space. 

The transformation has received LEED Gold certification as well as the Pennsylvania Society American Institute of Architects' Honor Award and Distinguished Building Award, and the International Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute's Design Award in the Educational Facility Category. The engineering school itself was named in recognition of John A. Swanson, PhD '66, founder of the computer software firm ANSYS Inc., for his contributions of $41.3 million to the school. 

###