Bellefield Hall

Bellefield Hall is a three-story limestone building near Forbes Avenue displaying symmetrical design and ornate carved details across its facade. Inside are classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and an auditorium used for university performances and student recitals.

Commissioned in 1924, architect Benno Janssen designed the building initially for the Young Men's Hebrew Association. After several decades it passed to the University of Pittsburgh and has since served music and arts education.

Today the building houses the University of Pittsburgh's music and arts programs, with students using practice rooms and rehearsal spaces daily. The spaces maintain traces of their original purpose, giving the place a dual identity that visitors can sense.

The building sits centrally on the University of Pittsburgh campus and is easily accessible from Forbes Avenue. Keep in mind it is actively used during class hours, and some interior areas may not be open to visitors.

The structure blends Italianate and Renaissance Revival architectural styles, featuring a complex slate roof with distinctive patterning. This fusion of two different design approaches is notably rare elsewhere on campus.

Location: Pittsburgh

Inception: 1924

Architects: Benno Janssen

Architectural style: Italianate architecture, Renaissance Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 40.44541,-79.95093

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:02