Who We Are

The Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State connects the Pittsburgh region with the University’s faculty, staff, and programs to support healthy, sustainable, innovative, and equitable communities through research, local outreach, engaged scholarship, and educational opportunities. The Center is located in Pittsburgh’s historic Hill District, adjacent to the city’s Golden Triangle, in the LEED Platinum certified Energy Innovation Center. Our offices are also home to staff from Penn State Extension, Readiness Institute at Penn State, Allegheny County, and Penn State Career Services.

We are one of two community centers at Penn State and are a part of Penn State Outreach. Learn more about the other community center, Penn State Center Philadelphia.

What We Do

Our team works to create opportunities for mutually beneficial campus-to-community connections. By providing a bridge between the Pittsburgh region and Penn State’s extensive resources, we address local needs and support sustainable and equitable neighborhoods and communities.

Our efforts are rooted in sustainability and provide our partners with a meaningful and immersive experience in the urban setting. We host several programs and events at the Center throughout the year and work to build connections for projects, research, tours, and more.

Who We Work With

The Center’s programming provides a positive impact for Penn State students and faculty, local community-based organizations and residents, and green industry professionals. Our efforts extend far beyond our location in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, reaching the surrounding neighborhoods and communities, local Penn State campuses, and Penn State University Park.

We strive to always abide by the following Penn State values:

Integrity
We act with integrity and honesty in accordance with the highest academic, professional, and ethical standards.

Respect
We respect and honor the dignity of each person, embrace civil discourse, and foster a diverse and inclusive community.

Responsibility
We act responsibly, and we are accountable for our decisions, actions, and their consequences.

Discovery
We seek and create new knowledge and understanding, and foster creativity and innovation, for the benefit of our communities, society, and the environment.

Excellence
We strive for excellence in all our endeavors as individuals, an institution, and a leader in higher education.

Community
We work together for the betterment of our University, the communities we serve, and the world.