As urban universities grow, town/gown relationships demand that universities develop thoughtfully and harmoniously with their neighbors. On Monday July 20, at the 2026 SCUP Annual Conference, representatives of Carnegie Mellon University and peer firms will discuss recent CMU projects and how planning processes strengthened community relationships while mitigating impacts. University Architect Bob Reppe (Carnegie Mellon University) will moderate the session “Campus Edge Projects: Good Planning Makes Good Neighbors.” He will be joined by co-presenters Associate Principal Greg LaForest, AIA (BCJ), Design Partner Kate Mann, AIA (ZGF), and Principal Lisa Ferreira, AIA, (Goody Clancy).

During the presentation, attendees will learn about how several projects at Carnegie Mellon University engage surrounding context and the dynamic process of planning and designing buildings that support the University’s master plan and Pittsburgh’s urban development. The panel will explore perspectives from different buildings at distinct urban edges of the CMU campus, including a residence hall, a science education building, and the Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics, a new paradigm for holistic student health.

In its strategic plan, Carnegie Mellon University identified the critical need to advance health and wellness support for students on campus, while utilizing campus space responsibly. The Master Plan sought to bring these services together while replacing two insufficient buildings and readapting outdated athletics facilities at the southeast edge of campus near Schenley Park. The Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics serves as a campus-wide network for wellbeing by threading health services with counseling and psychological services, wellness and spirituality, and training and athletics in a shared context to discover synergies and forge connections.

The Highmark Center extends the life of the 100-year-old historic Skibo Gymnasium on the site. Its comprehensive planning strategy allowed the new facility to maintain ties to university history through its integration and re-use. The design process involved university stakeholders, campus neighbors, and public community groups, including the Bellfield Area Citizens Association, the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Community dialogue was key to gaining broad, multi-neighborhood support for this large project at a public campus gateway.

Learn more about the 2026 SCUP Annual Conference at the link below.