Hillman Library

Hillman Library is the primary building of the University Library System (ULS) of the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Located on corner of Forbes Avenue and Schenley Drive diagonally across from the Cathedral of Learning, Hillman serves as the centerpiece of the approximately 5.7 million-volume University Library System at Pitt.The 24th largest academic library in the United States and Canada, the ULS has received national and international attention for its pioneering efforts in the digitization of materials.The ULS partners with other University of Pittsburgh libraries including the Barco Law Library and the Health Sciences Library System, both located on the Pittsburgh campus. The ULS shares a single online system with these partner libraries, collaborates with them to provide facilitated access to all collections, and cooperates on other projects to serve the University.

History

K. Leroy Irvis Reading Room

Hillman Library was built on land that had bordered Forbes Field and was donated in the 1950s to Pitt by coal magnate John H. Hillman, Jr. When Forbes Field was razed in 1971, three other buildings were planned as a cluster for the site: Wesley W. Posvar Hall, David L. Lawrence Hall, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Construction of Hillman Library, led by Celli-Flynn and Associates, coordinating architect, and Kuhn, Newcomer & Valentour, began in June 1965. Constructed with Indiana Limestone,Hillman opened on January 8, 1968 and was dedicated September 6, 1968. It is named for John H. Hillman, Jr. Both the Hillman family and the Hillman Foundation gave millions toward its construction. Max Abramovitz designed the oriel windows which were placed at a bay window angle in order to be inconspicuous on the plane surface of the outer wall while still providing light.. With five floors, seating for 1,539 students, and holding 1.9 million volumes, Hillman is the largest of the 17 libraries on the Pitt campus. In 1996, architect Celli-Flynn and Associates and Kuhn, Newcomer & Valentour won the Timeless Award for Enduring Design from the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Institute of Architects for its design of Hillman Library.