For Immediate Release
February 14, 2017
Point Park University’s new Pittsburgh Playhouse receives $50,000 gift
from Duquesne Light and DQE Communications
PITTSBURGH, PA –Duquesne Light Company and DQE Communications are showing support for the cultural and educational enhancement of Downtown Pittsburgh with a $50,000 gift toward the construction of Point Park University’s new Pittsburgh Playhouse.
The money will go to the exterior illumination of the public space in the project, which will highlight the walkways and showcase three historic facades that are being meticulously restored and reassembled in their original form.
“We are honored to add Duquesne Light Company and DQE Communications to the list of partners who have shown tremendous support for this project,” said Paul Hennigan, president of Point Park University. “Duquesne Light has a long, storied history of serving people in the Pittsburgh region through charitable donations and support for dozens of organizations and educational institutions.”
Duquesne Light’s gift is part of $42 million in gifts and pledges the Pittsburgh Playhouse project has received to date, the largest and most successful capital campaign in Point Park University’s history. The University previously announced a $74 million campaign for the project.
“With partners like Duquesne Light and DQE Communications, we have made tremendous progress, but our work is not done,” Hennigan said. “We welcome others in the community to be a part of a project that will become the heartbeat of Downtown Pittsburgh.”
Scheduled to open in the fall of 2018, Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse will incorporate two historic structures – the University Center and the Stock Exchange Building – and a new, five-story, 92,000-square-foot addition. Located on Forbes Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Playhouse will feature three theater spaces, a large scene shop, sound stage, prop shop, costume shop and café.
The outdoor public space of the new Playhouse is an urban courtyard consisting of a two-story plaza and colonnade.
A hangar door will connect one of the theaters inside the Playhouse to the outdoor public space on the first floor, providing students the opportunity to perform for the Downtown public at large. On the second floor, people will be able to experience all three of restored and reassembled historic facades with help from the energy-efficient exterior lighting. The facades were taken from the vacant buildings at 320, 322 and 330 Forbes Avenue, which were deconstructed to make room for the new Playhouse.
Contact: Lou Corsaro
Point Park University
412.392.6190
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Founded in 1960, Point Park University, recently named a College of Distinction, is a dynamic, urban university with a strong liberal arts tradition. Located in Downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park enrolls nearly 4,000 full- and part-time students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs offered through the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Communication and Conservatory of Performing Arts. Visit PointPark.edu to learn more.
About Duquesne Light Company
Duquesne Light Company is committed to more than keeping the lights on; it powers the moments in its customers’ lives. As a next generation energy company, Duquesne Light Company’s nearly 1,500 employees are dedicated to delivering reliable and safe energy to more than 500,000 customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.