Carnegie Mellon University Opens Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics

Carnegie Mellon University opened the $105 million Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics in fall of 2024. Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the renovated and expanded facility embodies a new paradigm for holistic student health on the Pittsburg campus. The four-story, 154,000-sf development features a modern athletics facility for practice, performance, training, and athlete care, complemented by full-service clinical areas for University Health Services. The building also accommodates counseling and psychological services, wellness programs, and religious and spiritual life initiatives.

Inside the main entrance, a concierge desk promotes engagement and ease of wayfinding, with wood baffles on the walls and ceiling providing acoustic comfort. A circular interfaith room is complemented by the Buncher Suite for Wellness and Meaning-Making Programs, which comprises four contemplation nooks, two ablution rooms, and the Hoplamazian Family Well-Being Lab. Housing a 16,000-sf arena, the Highmark Center accommodates an 8,000-sf gymnasium, the Rohr Intercollegiate Golf Training Facility, and the Block-Kelley Tartan Room, a multipurpose venue with floor-to-ceiling windows.

The biophilic structure maximizes connections to the outdoors by increasing access to natural light and ventilation. LEED Gold sustainable design certification is being sought for the facility, which involved 142,000 sf of new construction and 16,000 sf of renovated space. Mascaro Construction delivered the project over a period of 36 months.