Bellefield Hall
Encyclopedia
Bellefield Hall is a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation
Historic Landmark and is a contributing property
to the Schenley Farms Historic District
on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh
across Bellefield Avenue from Heinz Memorial Chapel
and the lawn of the university's Cathedral of Learning
in Pittsburgh
, Pennsylvania
, USA
.
Bellefield Hall, constructed in 1924, was designed by architect Benno Janssen
by combining the facades of the Italianate Palzzo Piccolomini delle Papesse in Siena
with the 18th-century Lee House at Stratford
in Virginia
for the Flemish-bond brick finish and the high basement. Samuel Yellin
was contracted to created the lanterns for the main entrance. Bellefield Hall was originally home to the Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association (Y.M.H.A.)
, whose patrons included Edgar Kauffman
and his family, opened in 1926. Originally, the high profile of its attic hid a flat expanse of roof where Y.M.H.A. patrons could sunbathe in total privacy. It also featured full sports facilities, meeting rooms, and a historic concert hall featuring Spanish stalactite ceiling and Jacobean
wall moldings in which a host of music luminaries (including Arthur Rubinstein
, Isaac Stern
, and Jean-Pierre Rampal
) made their Pittsburgh debuts.
The building was obtained by the university in a lease-purchase agreement in 1984 and reverted to the full university ownership ten years later. Today, Bellefield Hall is a 110000 square feet (10,219.3 m²) facility that is home to a variety of University offices and services. For University's the Department of Music, is houses a rehearsal spaces, a classroom, graduate student offices, and the William R. Robinson Digital Recording Studio. A recently renovated 676-seat auditorium holds many of the Department of Music's recitals and concerts. Bellefield Hall also houses a sports gym, fitness center, and indoor swimming pool. The second floor fitness center was renovated and expanded in 2005. A classroom specifically designed for African-drumming music was constructed in 2008. Bellefield Hall is also home to the Collegiate YMCA
at the University of Pittsburgh.
was invited to speak at the University of Pittsburgh. He was the first 2008 presidential candidate to speak on Pitt campus (the second being Barack Obama) during the 2007-2008 academic year and the only Republican candidate to do so.
Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation
The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 to support the preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA....
Historic Landmark and is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the Schenley Farms Historic District
Schenley Farms Historic District
The Schenley Farms Historic District, also referred to as the Schenley Farms-Oakland Civic District, is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places that is located in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
across Bellefield Avenue from Heinz Memorial Chapel
Heinz Memorial Chapel
Heinz Memorial Chapel is a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark and a contributing property to the Schenley Farms National Historic District on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
and the lawn of the university's Cathedral of Learning
Cathedral of Learning
The Cathedral of Learning, a Pittsburgh landmark listed in the National Register of Historic Places, is the centerpiece of the University of Pittsburgh's main campus in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Bellefield Hall, constructed in 1924, was designed by architect Benno Janssen
Benno Janssen
Benno Janssen was an American architect.-Childhood, Education and Career:Benno Janssen was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Oscar Janssen and Thekla Susenbeth. Janssen studied at the University of Kansas. In 1899, he began working in architecture in Boston, Massachusetts. He also continued...
by combining the facades of the Italianate Palzzo Piccolomini delle Papesse in Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
with the 18th-century Lee House at Stratford
Stratford Hall Plantation
Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was the home of four generations of the Lee family of Virginia, including two signers of the Declaration of Independence, and it was the birthplace of Robert Edward Lee , who became the Confederate General-in-chief during the American...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
for the Flemish-bond brick finish and the high basement. Samuel Yellin
Samuel Yellin
Samuel Yellin , American master blacksmith, was born in Galicia Poland where at the age of eleven he was apprenticed to an iron master. By the age of sixteen he had completed his apprenticeship. During that period he gained the nickname of "Devil," both for his work habits and his sense of humor...
was contracted to created the lanterns for the main entrance. Bellefield Hall was originally home to the Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association (Y.M.H.A.)
Jewish Community Center
A Jewish Community Center or Jewish Community Centre is a general recreational, social and fraternal organization serving the Jewish community in a number of cities...
, whose patrons included Edgar Kauffman
Edgar J. Kaufmann
Edgar J. Kaufmann was a prominent Jewish German-American businessman and philanthropist. He owned and directed Kaufmann's Department Store, the most prominent one in 20th century Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania...
and his family, opened in 1926. Originally, the high profile of its attic hid a flat expanse of roof where Y.M.H.A. patrons could sunbathe in total privacy. It also featured full sports facilities, meeting rooms, and a historic concert hall featuring Spanish stalactite ceiling and Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
wall moldings in which a host of music luminaries (including Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
, Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern was a Ukrainian-born violinist. He was renowned for his recordings and for discovering new musical talent.-Biography:Isaac Stern was born into a Jewish family in Kremenets, Ukraine. He was fourteen months old when his family moved to San Francisco...
, and Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."-Early years:...
) made their Pittsburgh debuts.
The building was obtained by the university in a lease-purchase agreement in 1984 and reverted to the full university ownership ten years later. Today, Bellefield Hall is a 110000 square feet (10,219.3 m²) facility that is home to a variety of University offices and services. For University's the Department of Music, is houses a rehearsal spaces, a classroom, graduate student offices, and the William R. Robinson Digital Recording Studio. A recently renovated 676-seat auditorium holds many of the Department of Music's recitals and concerts. Bellefield Hall also houses a sports gym, fitness center, and indoor swimming pool. The second floor fitness center was renovated and expanded in 2005. A classroom specifically designed for African-drumming music was constructed in 2008. Bellefield Hall is also home to the Collegiate YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
at the University of Pittsburgh.
Events
Bellefield Hall has hosted a number of notable events throughout its history, including concerts by the aforementioned musicians. In addition, on April 3, 2008, Republican Presidential candidate Congressman Ron PaulRon Paul
Ronald Ernest "Ron" Paul is an American physician, author and United States Congressman who is seeking to be the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, which covers an area south and southwest of Houston that includes...
was invited to speak at the University of Pittsburgh. He was the first 2008 presidential candidate to speak on Pitt campus (the second being Barack Obama) during the 2007-2008 academic year and the only Republican candidate to do so.