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Bruce Hall houses 214 men and women, primarily first-year students, in four- and six-person suites. The building is named for the first chancellor after the University was renamed from the Pittsburgh Academy to the Western University of Pennsylvania.
Location history

A full narrative history section

Bruce Hall, as seen from the Fifth Avenue side of the William Pitt Union (right), is one of the Schenley Quadrangle residences at the University of Pittsburgh.

Bruce Hall houses 214 men and women, primarily first-year students, in four- and six-person suites. The building is named for the first chancellor after the University was renamed from the Pittsburgh Academy to the Western University of Pennsylvania, Robert Bruce.   Bruce Hall served as a university office building until those offices were moved into Posvar Hall thereby allowing Bruce Hall to be converted into housing suites beginning in 1978.

 

Basement and First Floor The basement and first floor of Bruce Hall are actually on the street level with Forbes Avenue, and are rented out to The UPS Store and 7 Eleven.

Second Floor The second floor is the main entrance for residents, as well as the location of the University of Pittsburgh Residence Life offices.

Third Floor The third floor houses the sorority Theta Phi Alpha.

Fourth through Eleventh Floors The fourth through eleventh floors are entirely student suites. Each floor has 6 suites, 5 4-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 out of the common room's windows.

Twelfth Floor The twelfth floor is home to the University's catering service, as well as a meeting room in suite 1201 reserved for activities held by the President or Vice President of the University. It was usually impossible to get to the twelfth floor without an elevator key, although recently 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.

Source: LINK
Ghost stories and folklore

Paranormal narrative section

Bruce Hall is a residence hall at the University of Pittsburgh, with the exception of the 2nd floor which is used by University services and the top floor where 1201 is located. Bruce Hall Room 1201 is used to cater dinners and receptions and, is reportedly, the home of a ghost of two.

Many waitresses and others who have worked in that room over the years have reported strange experiences and unexplained phenomenon. These mysterious occurrences usually happen late at night when few people are present. Spooky noises, moving objects and ghostly footsteps have all been reported. A fully doused log in the fireplace was even said to have re-ignited by itself into a roaring blaze.

The rumor is that the wife and mistress of the man who owned the Schenley Hotel committed suicide in 1201 Bruce Hall. One reportedly jumped to her death from the top of the building, while the other hanged herself from the balcony behind the fireplace.

The Office of Special Events has named their ghost Harriett and hang a Christmas stocking for her each year...

Source: LINK

The Ghost of 1201 Bruce Hall Many students and university employees, as well as various outside sources, believe that a ghost or two haunts the 1201 suite of Bruce. 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 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, while some have reported poltergiest-like activity.

Others have heard stories of the elevators not stopping on their floor, and continuing up to the twelfth floor and refusing to go back down. Traditionally referred to as "Harriet," the ghost, for which Pitt staff have even hung Christmas stockings for, has only been known to visit the 12th floor, the 11th floor, and suite 8A on the 8th floor, where she is said to have lived.

Source: LINK
Paranormal claims
People have reported hearing strange noises.
People have reported seeing objects move by themselves and other poltergeist type activities.
People have reported hearing ghostly footsteps.
A fully doused log in the fireplace has re-ignited itself into a roaring blaze.
People have reported hearing a women’s voice.
People have reported that the elevator has gone to the twelfth floor and refused to go back down.