Schenley Plaza

[1] The 4.5-acre (18,000 m2) plaza, located on Forbes Avenue and Schenley Drive in the city's Oakland district, includes multiple gardens, food kiosks, public meeting spaces, a carousel, and a prominent 1.0-acre (4,000 m2) "Emerald Lawn" with free wireless internet access.

[2] The plaza is also surrounded by many prominent landmarks, including the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, Stephen Foster Memorial, Hillman Library, and Posvar Hall as well as the Carnegie Institute and its Dippy sculpture.

A national competition elicited 45 proposals for the site, and in June 1915, judges selected the plan of Horace Wells Sellers and H. Bartol Register, both of Philadelphia.

According to the judges, the winning design afforded "the simplest and least confusing plan of driveways; the circulation is good; and provision is made for automobile parking space.

It consisted of a wide driveway running from Forbes Avenue to the Schenley Bridge around a central oval, with grassy areas on either side planted with rows of London plane trees.

A view of the park benches and food kiosks at the Schenley Plaza
Bellefield Bridge
Schenley Plaza, at lower left, as it appeared c. 1923
Schenley Plaza's carousel
View from the southwest corner of Schenley Plaza. The University of Pittsburgh 's Cathedral of Learning , Stephen Foster Memorial , and Heinz Chapel can be seen on the left. Across the plaza, behind the trees, is the Carnegie Institute and Library complex.
Alternate view of Schenley Plaza, showing Posvar Hall , Hillman Library , Schenley Quadrangle , and the William Pitt Union .