About the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center (GPMC)
The Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center (GPMC) is home to numerous Masonic lodges and Masonic-related organizations. Additionally, we are a public event center for a variety of community and business meetings, performances, and private events.
The GPMC is a large public event center containing a state of the art 500 seat auditorium, a flexibly designed modern ballroom with spaces for 20–400 people, a full commercial kitchen, outdoor patio, and numerous spaces for conferences and meetings of all sizes. The GPMC is located less than 10 minutes from the heart of downtown Pittsburgh and easily accessible from all directions. This modern facility with historic charm boasts abundant free parking in an expansive one-level building that is fully accessible to all.
Our Staff
Office and Event Manager
Hello! My name is Maureen Burch, and I have been the Office and Event Manager at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center since 2022. I am a Pittsburgh transplant all the way from Champaign, Illinois (Go Illini!).
I came to the event planning business through a long line of creating communities and local events for a wide range of community non-profits and educational organizations. I have been an elementary educator, worked in International Student Programming, led the Life and Career Design Lab at the University of Illinois, and spend more than 30 years dedicating my life to local non-profits.
My background as an educator helps me to carefully shape the information I give to people who are struggling to plan their first events, as well as walk beside those who are doing it for the hundredth time. My goal is to help you design events that reflect your needs, budget, and bring people together to create community themselves … whether that community lasts for an evening or an eon.
I believe in the mission and purpose of the Masonic Fund Society and the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center and am delighted that I get to be a part of its rich history!
Facility Manager
Allow us to introduce you to Dave Allison, our facility manager. Dave not only works here but has been a Freemason since 2001. He has presided over several of Masonic bodies over those years including serving on the MFS Board. He is a native of the North Hills having grown up on his family’s farm, where he still lives today. Dave is a member of the Dorseyville Volunteer Fire Department where he served as Fire Chief. He is a lifelong member of East Union United Presbyterian Church which was actually founded by several of his early ancestors. I guess you could say that Dave’s Pittsburgh roots are deep!
Dave began his career pursuing a degree in electronics but also worked in maintenance and the operation of heavy equipment. He started working with Allegheny County prior to its development of the Hardwood Acres Park. There he served as a laborer and the maintenance supervisor of Hartwood before beginning his time here at the center. One of the many large projects Dave was responsible for was the setup and maintenance of the annual Hartwood Celebration of Lights. If you or your family have enjoyed that annual tradition you have Dave and his crew to thank!
In 2019 we coaxed Dave out of retirement to serve as The Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center Facility Manager. Dave approaches his work with humility, a vast breath of knowledge and experience, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Dave has instilled those same values in our maintenance team who are always ready and able to meet the needs of all who use and visit the GPMC.
Building Hours
The GPMC building is open:
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- 8:00am - 11pm
- 8:00am - 11pm
- 8:00am - 11pm
- 8:00am - 11pm
- 8:00am - 11pm
- Open for Events
- Open for Events
The building is staffed on Saturdays and Sundays as determined in advance by the facility schedule and is variable. The building is closed for the following holidays annually.
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day After Thanksgiving
Christmas Day
About the Masonic Fund Society (MFS)
The Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center (GPMC) is operated by the Masonic Fund Society for the County of Allegheny (MFS) which is run by a volunteer executive board.
According to the MFS Bylaws our purpose is: To promote, maintain and perpetuate the high ideals and traditions of Freemasonry, to establish and maintain a permanent meeting place for Masons and Masonic Lodges and affiliated organizations, and for such purpose to lease, purchase or otherwise acquire real estate and erect, maintain or remodel buildings thereon, with the power to mortgage or otherwise encumber the same, and finance the operation of said realty in connection with the use thereof as a public or private meeting place, wherein Masonic organizations, members thereof, and such other individuals or organizations as the Society may permit, may meet.
The MFS Board meets every 2nd Thursday of the month from August–May.
Our current 2025 MFS Executive Board is as follows
Pete Pancari
President
Brian Meador
Vice President
Jonathan Sweet
Treasurer
Brian Foley
Secretary
Scott Kingston
Asst. Secretary/Treasurer
About Freemasonry
For those unfamiliar with Freemasonry, Masons are the oldest fraternal organization in the world dating back to at least the middle ages in Europe as a guild of skilled builders working on the cathedrals and castles. Today, the craft of Freemasonry is less literal and more symbolic, with our official motto being “Making good men better men”. The goals of Freemasonry are to provide a way for men throughout the world to live their lives to their fullest potential in association with other like-minded men. With a focus on philanthropy, social, emotional, and intellectual development Masons can have tremendous impact on their Masonic brothers, families and the community at large.
If you are interested in learning more about the craft or joining one of our many lodges, please complete this inquiry form and a member of our executive committee will reach out to you.
History of the Masonic Fund Society and Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center
The Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center is an event and meeting facility operated by the Masonic Fund Society for the County of Allegheny.
The Masonic Fund Society traces its Charter back to January 31st, 1850. This Charter was approved with the intention of purchasing a site for a future Masonic hall. A plot of ground was indeed bought on Fifth Street in Pittsburgh and has actually held two Masonic halls over the years. The first, named simply “Masonic Hall” was dedicated in 1851 but unfortunately was completely destroyed by fire in 1887. A second building, the “Freemason’s Hall” on the same location, was dedicated on June 24th, 1889 to accommodate a growing population of active Freemasons in the Pittsburgh area. This building was sold after the erection of the greatly expanded and magnificent “Masonic Temple of Pittsburgh” in 1915. We remained in Pittsburgh’s Oakland District until 1996. This iconic building, a Pittsburgh History and Landmark’s Foundation Historic Landmark, was sold to the University of Pittsburgh and is still in use today as their “Alumni Hall”.
Seeking a new, modern hall that was more energy efficient and accessible to an aging population resulted in the building that today is known as the “Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center” located here in Ross Township in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. This contemporary facility was completed in 1996 to serve as the continuing home of ten founding Masonic member organizations and over 20 additional organizations with a variety of connections to Freemasonry in Pittsburgh.
In addition to being a center focused on advancing the ideals and philanthropic tenants central to Freemasonry, the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center also serves as an event center open to the public with a large community presence. This is our Masonic home, and we welcome you into our long history and rich tradition here at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center.
Museum & Library
The Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center Museum and Library are Western Pennsylvania’s premier Masonic historical resources.
The Library contains more than 2,000 volumes documenting Masonic and fraternal history around the world, including collections on Scottish, Irish and British Freemasonry and extensive collections on the Independent Order of Oddfellows. The Library also possesses the largest collection of history and documentation of Freemasonry in Western Pennsylvania, including lodge and organizational histories.
The Museum is comprised of more than 3,000 artifacts documenting the history of Freemasonry in Western Pennsylvania, including Masonic aprons, memorabilia and regalia.
To arrange access to the Library for research, please contact us here. The library is not currently lending materials but is available for onsite research.
The Museum is accepting select materials and artifacts for addition to the collection. To inquire about donating or loaning items to the Museum, please contact us here.
