Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center Blog

Throughout the year, Penn State Center Pittsburgh hosts the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) for industry professionals interested in engaging with their peers and learning more about local trends in green infrastructure. The comprehensive program covers the design, installation, inspection, and maintenance of green stormwater infrastructure relating to the Pennsylvania Best Management Practices manual and positions certified professionals for possible career advancement opportunities.

Registration for the spring 2021 City Semester program is now open. This program for undergraduate Penn State students provides the opportunity to spend an entire semester studying urban sustainability, interning virtually or in-person with a Pittsburgh partner, and making valuable connections to community leaders and potential future employers.

Penn State Center Pittsburgh’s City Semester students are working virtually on the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s Renew PA Works campaign in an effort to educate Pennsylvanians about the benefits of renewable energy, including job creation. Sharon Pillar, founder and executive director of the Pennsylvania Solar Center — a nonprofit organization committed to helping Pennsylvania businesses, nonprofits…

PITTSBURGH — Students in the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture program at Penn State made the community their classroom by designing a system of restorative and interactive public spaces in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Hazelwood. Their project is a collaboration between the Penn State Center Pittsburgh, the College of Arts and Architecture, and most importantly, the…

Get to know more about Jordyn Hinkle, a 2020 Penn State graduate (Earth Science and Policy major, minor in Sustainability Leadership) and former participant in Penn State Center Pittsburgh’s City Semester program. Jordyn joined 3 other students in the fall of 2018 for the program and became an ambassador for City Semester upon her return…

During the school year, a group of Pittsburgh high school students met twice a week at the Penn State Center Pittsburgh to explore their future and improve their community. The students were a part of the Community Innovation Training for Youth (CITY) program, which aims to provide local students with a unique out-of-classroom learning experience…

Penn State Center Pittsburgh’s City Semester program kicked off last week, looking a little different than in years past. The program is a unique experience that provides Penn State students with an opportunity to make a tangible impact on the Pittsburgh community and their future. Typically, students are fully immersed in the program — living…

For spring semester 2020, Penn State Center Pittsburgh helped landscape architecture students from Ken Tamminga’s Landscape Architecture Design and Theory V (LARCH 414) course with their Pittsburgh Studio project by connecting them to the neighborhood of Hazelwood. At the beginning of the semester, students met with residents and partner organizations to discuss the future of three sites in the community — Hazelwood Green, Southwest Hazelwood, and Gladstone to…

The City Semester Pittsburgh program is an immersive experience for Penn State students to live and learn in a dynamic city. Students in the program are placed with a community partner for an internship, joining other program cohorts for a 400-level course in urban sustainability, and building a professional network in the community. Following are…

It is imperative that industry professionals be constantly learning in their fields and staying on top of the latest trends and updates in their regions. Penn State Center Pittsburgh provides engaging opportunities throughout the year for professionals in design, landscape architecture, infrastructure, and similar fields to attend training courses and industry events to expand their…