Bruce Hall houses 212 primarily first year male and female students in four- and six-person suites. Starting in 2014–2015, Bruce Hall became home to the College of Business Administration's first year student Living Learning Community. The building is named for
Robert Bruce, the first chancellor after the university was renamed from the
Pittsburgh Academy to the
Western University of Pennsylvania. Until 1978, Bruce Hall served as a university office building; at that time, those offices were relocated to
Posvar Hall, thereby allowing Bruce Hall to be converted into student housing.
Basement and First Floor The basement and first floor of Bruce Hall are level with the street at
Forbes Avenue. In 2021, these retail spaces are occupied by
The UPS Store and Forbes Street Market, which was established in 2018 by the university and
Sodexo, but is now run by Compass, who has had the university's dining contract since July 2020. The space was previously occupied by a
7-Eleven, which closed in the Fall 2017.
Second Floor The second floor is the main entrance for residents, as well as the location of the University of Pittsburgh Business and Auxiliary Services offices.
Third through Eleventh Floors The third through eleventh floors are entirely student residential suites. Each floor has 6 suites: 3 four-person suites, 2 three-person suites, and 1 six-person suite with laundry facilities on each floor. The 6-person suites on the upper floors have an exceptional view of the
Cathedral of Learning,
Schenley Plaza, and the
Carnegie Museum of Natural History from the common room's windows.
Twelfth Floor The twelfth floor is home to the university's special events and catering services, including a meeting room in suite 1201 reserved for activities held by the president or vice president of the university. It was previously impossible to get to the twelfth floor without an elevator key, though recent access to the twelfth floor has not been as restrictive as in the past. A five bedroom, four-bath suite on the twelfth floor of Bruce Hall also once served as the university's Chancellor residence.
The Ghost of 1201 Bruce Hall Many students, university employees, and various outside sources believe that a
ghost or two haunts the 1201 suite of Bruce Hall. The owner of the Schenley Apartments once lived with his family on the twelfth floor. Rumor has it that his mistress and/or wife committed suicide in the 1201 suite by either hanging herself or throwing herself out the window. Students and staff have reported hearing footsteps in the stairwells and the halls, as well as a woman's voice. Some have reported
poltergiest-like activity, and past student residents have heard stories about the elevators not stopping on their floor, instead continuing up to the twelfth floor and refusing to go back down. Traditionally referred to as "Harriet," the ghost (for whom Pitt staff have even hung
Christmas stockings for) has only been known to visit the 12th floor, the 11th floor, and suite 8B on the 8th floor (where she is said to have lived). ==Holland Hall==