The University of Pittsburgh marks 100 years since construction began on its Cathedral of Learning with free events this weekend. Sunday, Sept. 27, Cathy-Palooza runs from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Cathedral Lawn, and the light-and-sound show returns from 9 to 9:15 p.m.
Ground was broken Sept. 24, 1926, after then-Chancellor John G. Bowman envisioned a landmark for Pitt and Pittsburgh. Designed by Charles Zeller Klauder, the Gothic Revival tower is 42 stories and 535 feet tall; it was the world’s tallest academic building when it opened and remains the tallest university building in the U.S. Nearly 97,000 schoolchildren donated dimes to the construction campaign. Its Nationality Rooms, honoring communities that shaped Pittsburgh, have grown from 18 to 31 classrooms.
The light-and-sound show was projected onto the building Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25–26. Cathy-Palooza includes family-friendly activities, Nationality Room tours, birthday cake and opportunities to learn about the building’s history.
