Welcome to the 2015 Greater Pittsburgh Regional FIRST Robotics Competition! Here is some information to orient you to the Convocation Center, the Machine Shop, events that will be happening during the Regional along with some useful information about businesses in the Cal U area. EMERGENCIES In case of an emergency in the pits or playing field area, notify Pit Admin immediately. EMTs are here and Pit Admin can get additional assistance if needed. In the Main Lobby, notify the Concierge Table. Away from these areas, notify anyone wearing a communications headset. Outside the Convocation Center call 911. In the event of a non-emergency medical issue, Pit Admin will have a list of local hospitals, dentists, optical services and pharmacies. Convocation Center The basic shape of the Convocation Center is a giant U surrounding the main arena, which includes the pits and the playing field area. The main lobby area is below the bottom of the U and the robot load-in was at the upper left of the U. Signs are at strategic locations to help guide you. Restrooms are located off the Main Lobby and on the Concourse Level. For those who can t navigate steps, there are restrooms on the pit level by the Volunteer Lounge at the end of the load-in hallway. There are elevators in the Main Lobby and one near the Practice Field. Due to the number of teams, each team can only park one vehicle in the Team and Volunteer parking area. A parking pass that must be displayed on the dashboard will be given to you at load-in. See the Site Info portion of this packet for alternative parking locations. Need help with your robot? Team 2614, MARS, will be hosting a help desk near Pit Admin where you can request help from them. If you run into problems, please make use of this resource! Photos! We love photos! Everyone takes pictures at the Regional and we d love to have yours for possible use on the PittsburghFIRST.org website. When you have a lot of good shots, please visit the Volunteer Registration Desk (you can ask any volunteer where it is at) to download your pictures to our laptop. Thank you!
Event Schedule Wednesday, March 4 6:00pm - 8:00pm Open for Load-In Thursday, March 5 7:45am Open for Load-In 8:30am Pits, Machine Shop, Registration and Inspection Open 10:00am - Noon Field available for connectivity checks. Noon - 1:00pm Lunch 1:00pm 6:00pm Practice Rounds 8:00pm Pits and Machine Shop Close Friday, March 6 8:00am Pits and Machine Shop Open 8:30am - 9:00am Opening Ceremonies 9:00am - Noon Qualification Matches (10:00am 2:00pm Scholarship / University / College Fair in the Lobby) Noon - 1:00pm Lunch 1:00pm - 5:45pm Qualification Matches 5:45pm 5:50pm Mentor Parade 5:50pm - 6:30pm Awards Ceremony 7:00pm Pits and Machine Shop Close Saturday, March 7 8:00am Pits and Machine Shop Open 8:30am - 9:00am Opening Ceremonies 9:00am - 12:10pm Qualification Matches (10:00am 2:00pm FIRST demonstrations in the Lobby) 12:10pm 12:15pm Mascot Parade 12:15pm - 12:30pm Alliance Selections (Senior Photo on playing field immediately after Alliance Selections) 12:30pm 1:30pm Lunch 1:30pm 4:30pm Final Rounds 4:30pm 5:30pm Awards Ceremony 6:30pm Pits Close (Schedule subject to change.) KDKA-TV Channel 2 KDKA, a Pittsburgh-based TV station, will be here filming throughout the Competition. They will be broadcasting a 30-minute program on our event on March 28, 2015.
Machine Shop Hopefully your robot will have no serious mechanical problems, but if you need a machine shop two well-equipped and staffed facilities are available. Go to Pit Admin first before going to either of the facilities below. Helsel Hall (marked S in the upper left of the map) is where metal lathe and milling work can be scheduled. Coover Hall (marked P ) is where all other repairs (cutting, welding, drilling, bending, etc.) can be made in room 126. The arrows mark the best entrances. For Helsel Hall, enter where marked, turn right at the first hallway and the shop will be the first room on the right. For Coover Hall, the marked entrance goes directly into the shop area. There are no steps between the pits and these machine shops and the path is level, so transporting your robot should be easy.
Events during the Regional FIRST Robotics Demonstrations Main Lobby, Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm We will be hosting a demonstration of FTC, FLL, and JrFLL robots in the Main Lobby Saturday morning and through lunch. In addition to encouraging you to visit the demonstration, this is an excellent opportunity for visitors who might be interested in starting a team to catch some of the excitement and to have their questions answered. If you know someone who is considering starting a team at any of the four FIRST levels, please encourage them to visit this demonstration. FIRST Scholarship Information and University / College Fair Main Lobby, Friday 10:00am-2:00pm We are pleased to announce that this year we are hosting Universities and Colleges who are eager to meet the students and discuss how their school meets the desires of what the students want to study and what kind of school they are interested in attending. (Additionally we have brochures from other schools who could not attend due to scheduling conflicts.) Mentor Parade Friday 5:45pm 5:50pm Mascot Parade Saturday 12:10pm 12:15pm
Useful Places to know in the Cal U Area You can get additional information or directions to any of these locations by asking at the Concierge Table located in the Main Lobby. Close On-Campus eating Concession stands are available on the Concourse Level of the Convocation Center and have traditional stadium-style food. They will open at 8am all three days and will be open until the pits close. You can also eat in the Cal U dining hall located less than 100 feet from the Convocation Center in Gallagher Hall. (For those of you at the Regional last year, this is a different cafeteria than last year as the Natali Student Center is closed for construction.) All meals are all-you-can-eat and the cost is $5.45 for breakfast, $7.60 for lunch and $9.80 for dinner. Please note that due to the Cal U Spring Break, the Cal U dining halls will be closed after the conclusion of lunch on Friday. Off Campus eating places in California PA At the end of this packet you will find two pages of information on local food establishments. Local Hardware Stores Walmart about 4 miles away (closest place for groceries) 134 Daniel Kendall Dr, West Brownsville, PA 15417 Phone: (724) 364-4076 Walmart Supercenter about 10 miles away 100 Sara Way Belle Vernon, PA 15012 Phone: (724) 929-2424 Do It Best Hardware Store very well stocked and recommended about 5 miles 6027 National Pike, Grindstone, PA 15442 Phone: 724-785-4100 Lowes about 10 miles 203 Sarah Way, Belle Vernon, PA 15012 Store #0120 Phone: (724) 930-7000 Fax: (724) 930-8502 Mon - Sat 7 AM - 9 PM, Sun 8 AM - 8 PM
reee Restaurants California Signatures 143 Second Street, California 724-938-9550 Spuds Wood Street, California 724-938-7800 Cathy s Bakery 235 Wood Street, California 724-938-2088 8am-2pm *Made to Order Dairy Queen 250 3rd Street, California 724-938-7655 Dairyqueen.com Subway 352 3rd Street, California 724-938-8338 Subway.com Great Wall Chinese 344 3rd Street, California 724-938-8500 Quizno's 128 Wood Street, California 724-938-9100 Quiznos.com Campy's Pizza 153 Wood Street California 724-938-27700 *Delivery Available Campyspizza.com Belle Vernon Back Porch Restaurant 114 Speer Street, Belle Vernon 724-483-4500 Backporchrestaurant.com Denny s 855 Rostraver Road, Belle Vernon 724-929-7111 Dennys.com Hoss's 148 Finley Road, Belle Vernon 724-929-9249 Hosss.com Redd Dawg s All Star Clubhouse 110 Sara Way, Belle Vernon 724-930-9697 Redd-dawgs.com/catering/index.html Eat'n Park 1675 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon 724-930-7470 Eatnpark.com Starbucks 128 Pricedale Road, Belle Vernon 724-929-0157 Starbucks.com Little Bamboo 311 Tri-County Lane, Belle Vernon 724-929-6899 Speer St. Grill 121 Speer Street, Belle Vernon 724-483-1911 Speerstgrill.com Sonny s Grille 304 Mikula Road, Belle Vernon 724-929-5007
reee Restaurants Belle Vernon Pizza Hut 50 Sara Way, Belle Vernon 724-484-7990 Pizzahut.com Jake s Pizza 1745 Rostraver Rd, Belle Vernon 724-929-2809 KFC 865 Rostraver Rd, Belle Vernon 724-929-2721 KFC.com A&W, Long John Silvers 806 Rostraver Rd, Belle Vernon 724-929-3396 Awrestaurants.com, Longjohnsilvers.com Serendipity Tea Room & Cafe 127 Speers, Belle Vernon 724-483-3041 Serendipitytearoom.com McDonalds 845 Rostraver Rd, Belle Vernon 724-929-0113 Mcdonalds.com Coal Center Lagerheads 100 Spring Sreet, Coal Center 724-938-3470 Downtown Coal Center (1 mile) Delivery Available HighPoint 882 Highpoint Drive, Coal Center 724-938-2877 PA-88 (3 miles) Highpointrestaurantlounge.com Bentleyville Kings Family Restaurant 206 Wilson Road, Bentleyville 724-239-9202 Exit from Interstate 70: Bentleyville (10 miles) Kingsfamily.com Burger King 150 Wilson Road, Bentleyville 412-239-5211 Exit from Interstate 70: Bentleyville (10 miles) Bk.com Wendy s 790 Rostraver Rd, Belle Vernon 724-930-7505 Wendys.com Charleroi Rego s 601 McKean Avenue, Charleroi 724-483-6200 Ponderosa Steakhouse 120 Sara Way, Belle Vernon 724-929-6013 Ponderosasteakhouses.com Italian Village Pizza 824 Rostraver Road, Belle Vernon 724-929-5660 Italianvillagepizza.com Riverhouse 506 McKean Avenue, Charleroi 724-565-5701 Paulos 509 McKean Avenue, Charleroi 724-489-4444