Walk into the William Pitt Union on a Tuesday afternoon and you’ll see the typical college chaos. Students are hunched over laptops in the Tansky Family Lounge, some are grabbing a quick wrap at the Schenley Café, and there’s probably a flyer being shoved into your hand about a late-night bingo event. It feels like a standard student union. But honestly, if these walls could actually talk, they wouldn’t be talking about midterms. They’d be gossiping about the time the Soviet Premier showed up or how a world-famous actress literally died in one of the upstairs suites.
Most people—even the students who spend four years here—basically treat the "WPU" as a glorified hallway between classes. That’s a mistake. This place isn't just a building; it’s a Beaux-Arts masterpiece that used to be the "Waldorf of Pittsburgh."
From Cow Pasture to High Society
Before it was the William Pitt Union, this plot of land in Oakland was quite literally a cow pasture owned by Mary Croghan Schenley. It’s hard to imagine now, standing under the massive chandeliers, but back in the late 1890s, entrepreneur Franklin Nicola had this wild vision. He wanted to turn Oakland into a cultural utopia, far away from the choking smog of downtown Pittsburgh's steel mills.
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The result was the Hotel Schenley, opened in 1898. It was Pittsburgh’s first "skyscraper" hotel. Back then, ten stories was a big deal.
You’ve got to realize who was hanging out here. We aren't just talking about local business guys. Every U.S. President from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight D. Eisenhower stayed here. The hotel register, which the University still has tucked away in its archives, is a "who's who" of the Gilded Age. Andrew Carnegie, Henry Clay Frick, and George Westinghouse were regulars. In 1901, the big shots of the Carnegie Steel Company sat down in these rooms and hammered out the deal to create US Steel—the world's first billion-dollar corporation.
The Ghost of Suite 524 and Other Legends
One of the most tragic stories involves Eleonora Duse. She was a legendary Italian actress, often considered one of the greatest of her time. In 1924, while on a farewell tour, she stayed at the Schenley. She ended up waiting outside in a cold rain for a door to be opened at a theater, caught pneumonia, and died right here in suite 524.
If you head to the Tansky Family Lounge today, you’ll find the "Stairway to Nowhere." It’s this beautiful, slightly eerie architectural leftover that features a bronze plaque by Frank Vittor dedicated to Duse. It’s a weirdly quiet spot in a building that is usually humming with TikTok-induced noise.
Then there’s Lillian Russell. She was the "it girl" of the era—an actress and singer who was basically the Marilyn Monroe of the 1890s. She lived in suite 437 for years and even got married in the French Room (which is now just a dining room on the first floor).
What’s actually inside the William Pitt Union today?
The University of Pittsburgh bought the place in 1956 for about $2 million. They needed dorms and a place for students to gather. They gutted a lot of it, which is kind of a bummer, but they kept the "good stuff" on the main floor.
- The Ballroom: This is the crown jewel. It’s got vaulted ceilings, mirrored walls, and these massive crystal chandeliers. It looks more like a palace in Versailles than a place where you'd hold a career fair.
- Nordy's Place: Located in the lower level, this is the modern counterpoint. It’s named after former Chancellor Mark Nordenberg. It’s got pool tables, gaming consoles, and it’s where the non-alcoholic late-night vibes happen.
- The Stress Free Zone: Up on the third floor, you’ll find a space dedicated to yoga and meditation. It’s a bit ironic considering the high-stakes business deals that used to happen floors below.
- WPTS-FM and The Pitt News: The student-run radio station and newspaper are headquartered here. It’s the heartbeat of student media.
The Khrushchev Incident
One of the weirdest moments in the building's history happened in September 1959. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was on his big tour of the United States. Tensions were high—it was the Cold War, after all. He stopped at the William Pitt Union for a luncheon.
Historians note that this was actually one of the "warmest" receptions he got during his trip. Thousands of people lined the streets of Oakland just to get a glimpse of him. It’s sort of surreal to think about a Soviet leader eating lunch in the same building where you now grab a coffee before your 9:00 AM Econ lecture.
Why it's changing again
Nothing stays the same at Pitt. If you’ve been on campus lately, you’ve seen the construction. The Campus Master Plan is looking at some pretty radical changes. There is actual talk about converting parts of the Union back into student housing—specifically suite-style living with over 350 beds.
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It would be a "full circle" moment. The building started as a hotel, became a dorm in the 50s, turned into a full-time student union in the 80s, and now might go back to being a place where people actually sleep.
A Quick Cheat Sheet for Your Visit
If you’re just visiting or you’re a freshman trying to look like you know what’s up, keep these spots in mind.
- The Porch: The Bigelow Boulevard side was recently renovated into a massive plaza. It’s the best place on campus for people-watching.
- The Lower Lounge: This is where the old-school charm really hits. Imagine people in top hats playing bridge here in 1910.
- The 9th Floor: Mostly offices now (Residence Life, Pitt Arts), but it was fully renovated a few years back. It’s a good place to find resources if you’re actually trying to do something productive.
Actionable Tips for Navigating the Union
Don't just walk through the Fifth Avenue doors and leave.
- Check the Ballroom Schedule: If there isn't a private event, you can sometimes just peek in. The acoustics are wild.
- Use the Commuter Lounge: If you aren't living on campus, the lower level has a dedicated lounge that is way better than trying to study in a crowded Starbucks.
- Find the Gene Kelly Star: Near the Forbes Avenue entrance, there's a star for the legendary dancer who graduated from Pitt.
- Go to the 4th Floor for help: That’s where the Student Organization Resource Center (SORC) lives. If you want to start a club or need funding, that’s your home base.
The William Pitt Union isn't just a "union" in the sense of a building. It's a layers-of-history cake. Whether you're there for a meeting of the Black Action Society or just to hide from the Pittsburgh rain, you're walking on the same marble where presidents and icons once stood. Respect the history, but definitely take advantage of the free Wi-Fi and the couches.
If you are planning a visit, start at the Fifth Avenue entrance to see the historical marker, then work your way down to the lower level for the modern student experience. You'll get the full 125-year evolution in about a ten-minute walk.