Ground Breaks for $12M Rogers Center

It is named after native-son Fred Rogers, 30-year host of Public Broadcasting's "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood," which was filmed at WQED, Pittsburgh's public television station. The $12-million construction cost is fully funded with a $5-million contribution from the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital program, $5 million from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, $1 million from the Heinz Endowments, and another $1 million from additional donations.

The Rogers Center portion of the building will encompass approximately 9,000 sf and contain a Fred Rogers archive, a library/research area and a lab/workshop for developing and demonstrating children's media alongside informal public space and offices for staff and visiting professionals. The conference center portion of approximately 23,000 sf includes a banquet room with seating for up to 300, a classroom-style meeting center to accommodate up to 150, breakout rooms, administrative offices and an outdoor area suitable for events.

Landscaping will connect with the adjacent Winnie Palmer Nature Preserve, named for golfer Arnold Palmer's late wife, and visually divide a 430-car parking area. The building materials and design features ensure "that this will be a 'green' building," says Milton Chen, chair of the Rogers Center Advisory Council. He says the college will apply for LEED's silver certification. The building is expected to reach completion in January 2008.