Croghan-Schenley Ballroom

Courtesy of Brian Crawford

Location:

4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Description:

Tucked within the upper floors of the Cathedral of Learning, the Croghan-Schenley Ballroom is one of the lesser-known yet most elegant interior spaces in the University of Pittsburgh’s landmark tower. Named for two of Pittsburgh’s most prominent historical families—Mary Croghan Schenley and the Croghan lineage—the ballroom embodies early 20th-century opulence in contrast to the more austere Gothic Revival style of the building's public spaces.

The room was originally designed to serve as a formal event space for university gatherings, receptions, and special occasions. It was furnished and decorated in the 1930s with support from the local community and historical patrons. While the rest of the Cathedral is dominated by Collegiate Gothic elements, the ballroom reflects more of a Beaux-Arts and early American neoclassical influence, with delicate detailing, crystal chandeliers, tall arched windows, and ornate moldings that soften the otherwise vertical and monumental feel of the building.

Architecturally, the space offers a unique counterpoint to the stonework and vaulted ceilings of the Cathedral’s main public areas. The ballroom features polished hardwood floors, decorative ceiling medallions, and elegant wall paneling, all designed to evoke a sense of refinement and formality appropriate for academic and civic ceremonies. The room’s large windows allow for sweeping views of the surrounding city, tying its lofty interior atmosphere to the skyline of Pittsburgh below.

Though not as widely visited as the Commons Room or the Nationality Rooms, the Croghan-Schenley Ballroom remains a prized space within the university. It is occasionally opened for special university events and formal functions, offering a rare glimpse into a more intimate, genteel side of the Cathedral’s historic and architectural legacy.