Pitt Sorority Alumnae

[honeychile]

Have any of you seen the new suites? O.Mi.Gosh!!! I went to an Alumnae/Mother's Brunch yesterday, and just about fainted! Granted, I only got to see the ADPi suite, but it has to be seen to believed!

They're only responsible for 15 on a floor now, not 17, and there are a LOT more singles! There's only one kitchen, but it's fantastic, not the pullman-style of before. A dishwasher! Two refrigerators! Two microwaves! A garbage disposal! Countertop space! It would be a dream to work in there! And off of the kitchen is... a washer & dryer! In our suite, this was located where the kitchen & the "maid's rooms" were, on the formal side; I don't know if it's the same on every floor.

It's AIR CONDITIONED!!!!!

There are no wall to wall rugs in the ADPi suite, but the hardwood floors are polished to a fare-thee-well, with area rugs. I can remember when we had to have wall to wall carpeting, due to the noise!

The remnaints of the French Doors on the one bedroom are gone - the wall is perfectly smooth now. The other kitchen is a bedroom - and all the bedrooms have a card key now! I had worried about Pitt messing up the moldings, but they're still there - it just looks so classy now, I can't believe it! When we celebrated our 150th birthday, a group from my days all left feeling SO depressed, we referred to the suite as "bunker chic" for the longest time. Not anymore! They have new furniture ordered, and they're using a decorator again.

I'll post some pictures when I can. When I was in school, we had a decorator and the suite was beautiful, but somewhere along the line, things went downhill. I'm so happy for the chapter now, and want to hear if anyone else has seen the redesigned suites. There's one more bit I'd share, but it's just a bit, well, too good to be true. Anyone?

[LegallyBrunette]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I'll post some pictures when I can. When I was in school, we had a decorator and the suite was beautiful, but somewhere along the line, things went downhill. I'm so happy for the chapter now, and want to hear if anyone else has seen the redesigned suites. There's one more bit I'd share, but it's just a bit, well, too good to be true. Anyone?

Please do! I am very curious to see all the renovations!

I'm not a Pitt sorority alumnae (I went to Pitt for grad school, not undergrad) but I did work with the the TPA chapter there as an advisor last year when all the groups were housed with us in Bruce. At the time there were ongoing discussions as to what renovations would be made to the TPA suite to ensure that all the groups were competing on an even playing field once the renovations in Amos were complete. Unfortunately, I moved out of the area before any plans were finalized, and I'm dying to know what's in store-- especially since the new suites in Amos sound so fabulous!

Please don't keep us in suspense about the other bit of good news!

[kddani]

Wow, I didn't realize that they were going to do THAT much. We're having an alumnae brunch on the 15th and I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by kddani

Wow, I didn't realize that they were going to do THAT much. We're having an alumnae brunch on the 15th and I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

That's what I was thinking - that Amos would be up to code, not much more. I do miss the huge portrait of Thyros Amos in the lobby, though. I miss the whole lobby ambience.

But it was worth it!

[kddani]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I miss the whole lobby ambience.

Lol, if by ambiance you mean some crazy @ss security guard flipping out and screaming at us every day, sure I'll always remember how much the crazy wig lady who worked security would totally freak out after any Greek event when tons of us were coming back to the dorms. She'd be so busy screaming and ranting and calling campus police that we'd all just walk through the door and up the stairs to our suites.

Biggest question- did they replace the elevator??? That thing was disgusting. My dad still talks about how small and gross it was.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by kddani

Lol, if by ambiance you mean some crazy @ss security guard flipping out and screaming at us every day, sure I'll always remember how much the crazy wig lady who worked security would totally freak out after any Greek event when tons of us were coming back to the dorms. She'd be so busy screaming and ranting and calling campus police that we'd all just walk through the door and up the stairs to our suites.

Biggest question- did they replace the elevator??? That thing was disgusting. My dad still talks about how small and gross it was.

*sigh* The elevator is much the same. When I was in school, it was normal looking, and they had just closed the service elevator down (a larger one in the stairwell). Every sorority also had a storage bin in the basement during my freshmen year.

The lobby. We didn't have the neo-nazi security guards - the women who ran the desk were almost like housemothers. You could tell them that if so-and-so came, tell them you just left. There was also a sofa & chairs, so you really didn't have to take someone upstairs if you didn't want to do so. The portrait of Miss Amos was next to the elevator, and there was a demilune table under it, usually with flowers of some sort. If you got flowers sent to you, everybody in Amos Hall would know it. Maybe I'm romanticizing it (the sofa was kinda nasty), but I really, really don't like the security guards!

[ta kala]

Originally Posted by kddani

Wow, I didn't realize that they were going to do THAT much. We're having an alumnae brunch on the 15th and I'm really looking forward to seeing it.

I wish I could go! But I did see a picture of the informal end, and there is a door now leading for the informal living room to the small bedroom! I really wish I could see it, especially with all the renovations. Please, please post pictures!

[LampLady]

The renovations sound awesome and long overdue! I remember going to visit the DZ suite in the Fall of 2003 when my daughter was looking at colleges. I felt like I was in a time warp. I graduated in the mid 70's and the suite looked almost exactly the same! I lived in one of those single, pullman rooms next to the kitchen for a year of my 3 years in Amos Hall and had my dresser in the little hallway. It's about time that the university gave us some upgraded appliances. As for the security, I thought it was great! We called the older blond lady that manned the desk "the Honey lady". I can't recall her name now, but she sure remembered all of us like a grandmother and knew everyone and their guests by name. Since we were on the second floor, I didn't have to contend with the elevator that much, unless moving in. I remember coming back from the Pitt-Navy game one Saturday afternoon followed by a line of Navy cadets who were "on leave" until the bus left the next day. One of my sisters stopped at the desk, wrote her name under "Resident", and then wrote "The US Navy" under "Guest"!! The honey lady just laughed and watched all of the fine young men in their dress uniforms follow us up the stairs. I'll have to visit sometime this Fall and see it? Also...what was too good to be true???

[AnotherKD]

Wow... I had heard about the renovation, but didn't realize it was so much better. Did they do anything to the common area above ADPi? I wish I could make it to the brunch, but I'd love it if someone could post pictures...

[honeychile]

Omigosh - "The Honey Lady"!! Her name was Mrs. Hahn (Hawn?), never knew her first name. The rather sophisticated Southern woman with auburn hair was Mrs. Rodderick - my little sister knew her son from high school, and I still run into her from time to time. The other semi-permanent desk lady was Bea or Miss Bea - a very down to earth black woman. I hadn't thought about their names in years.

As soon as I get a break, I'll try to post pictures. They will probably look dull to the sorority women with the huge houses, but it's a true 180 for Amos Hall!

PS: I didn't think about the common area until I left. The next person to visit, please ask!

[kddani]

Originally Posted by honeychile

PS: I didn't think about the common area until I left. The next person to visit, please ask!

I wonder about it, too. Oh how I used to HATE having to lug my laundry onto the elevator, get off on ADPi's floor and walk up the stairs to do my laundry since the elevator didn't go up that far. And I always felt bad for the ADPi's to have to deal with that extra traffic, especially when they had events going on.

Though I can see issues with a washer and dryer in the suites. How many petty fights are there going to be with ladies leaving their laundry in the washer or dryer, and someone getting mad at the rudeness of doing so and throwing a wet load of laundry into the owner's room ?

Please, Lord, do not let me have to deal with such an issue through Standards!

[honeychile]

Okay, I finally have a few minutes to post these. Please remember that furniture is ordered, and hasn't arrived yet, but I'll try to point out the differences:

The Elevator Hallway.
I actually said, "Oh, we're on the wrong floor, the composite's too big!"


Informal Hallway
Notice that the airconditioning ductwork cuts into the shelving


Informal Living Room
The same type of lamp fixture is throughout the suite.


Informal Living Room
Showing where the French Doors to the bedroom were.

[honeychile]

Bedroom off of Informal Living Room
Fairly typical - Pitt furniture.


One of the shared Bathrooms
Sorry about this - but they look like ones from a hotel.


Off to the Formal Side!

[honeychile]

Formal Entrance Hall
Note the restroom off to the right.


Formal Living Room
Note the 22' high ceiling - THE reason it has to be painted professionally!


Chapter Room
Complete "The Scooter Trophy" and a motivation poster for the Golden Lion!


Chapter Room
Looking a pictures from the past.


The Kitchen!
This is between the Chapter Room & the restroom, looking to the right.


The Kitchen, Redux!
Looking towards the left side - the laundry room is just past the right end of the counter.


There are other places (ritual closets, etc) which aren't shown here. This concludes your tour of the Alpha Delta Pi suite - please watch your step on the hardwood floors, and come back again!

[honeychile]

Bump for spammers.