After nearly eight years of coalition building, Pitt is opening a new Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC)—a secure data facility managed in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University and the U.S. Census Bureau. Its sensitive data will only be available to researchers who obtain special clearance.
For years, Pitt and Carnegie Mellon researchers have been leveraging federal data to tackle pressing societal issues. But the opening of the FSRDC in Pittsburgh will bring new research opportunities to the universities, especially in the areas of social policy, regional healthcare challenges and economic investment.
“We wanted to build an attractive workplace that reminds people of the importance that their work could have for the nation, for Pittsburgh, and for the surrounding communities.”
Set to open in early 2026, the FSRDC leaders were thoughtful about the design of the facility. “The design echoes shapes and structures found in the Cathedral of Learning and in area buildings,” said Rob Cunningham, Vice Chancellor for Research Infrastructure. “We wanted to build an attractive workplace that reminds people of the importance that their work could have for the nation, for Pittsburgh, and for the surrounding communities.”