Get ready to enter the busy emergency room of The Pitt, a new medical drama from Max that aired for the first time on January 9, 2025. The show, which was created by R. Scott Gemmill, promises to show an intense, real-time look into a 15-hour emergency shift at the made-up Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. The Pitt combines realistic medical drama with raw human drama. Noah Wyle plays Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, and the show also stars Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, and Taylor Dearden. The show’s connection to Pittsburgh adds another layer of realism, and the places where it was filmed are an important part of the story.
But where exactly did they film this exciting medical drama? Even though the show’s name sounds like it takes place in Pittsburgh, it actually takes place in many places, some of which were carefully designed on soundstages and others of which were real places.
The Pitt Summary Plot
Each episode of The Pitt shows one hour of a 15-hour emergency room shift. The show uses a “24”-style real-time format to show how fast-paced trauma medicine is. In the story, a group of dedicated doctors and nurses deal with life-or-death situations while also dealing with problems at home and at work. The story is anchored by the chief attending doctor, Dr. Robby Rabinavitch, who shows empathy and has a background that includes the death of his mentor during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the team deals with different medical emergencies, they are pushed to their limits. This makes the situation very dangerous, and every second counts.
Where was The Pitt filmed?
The Pitt’s filming began in the middle of July 2024 and took place mostly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as well as in a few places in Canada and California. The mix of real-life settings and soundstages was chosen to get a realistic look while still making the production run smoothly. Let’s take a look at the main places where The Pitt was filmed.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A lot of The Pitt was filmed on soundstages, but the crew also spent a few days filming in Pittsburgh to get a feel for the city. The North Side’s Allegheny General Hospital was the main inspiration for the made-up Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. Important scenes were filmed at and near the hospital. One of the most moving parts was an emotional sunrise scene on the roof of the hospital, where Dr. Robby had a heartfelt conversation with another doctor.
Noah Wyle suggested Pittsburgh as the show’s setting and liked how unique the city is. Wyle said, “Pittsburgh’s mix of industry, agriculture, and a diverse population made it the perfect background.” “Movies shot at Allegheny General Hospital added a level of realism that is hard to match.”
British Columbia, Canada
Several places on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus were used for both outside and inside shots of the University Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Irving K. Barber Learning Center and Memorial Road have features that make them look like busy hospitals, and Buchanan Tower gives them a more modern look.
Nina Ruscio, the production designer, got ideas from AGH photos but changed them to fit the UBC sites. “The portico on East North Avenue inspired the aesthetic, but UBC’s buildings allowed us to create a visually cohesive environment,” Ruscio said.
Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California
A 30,000-square-foot copy of a Pittsburgh hospital was built on Warner Bros. soundstages 21 and 22 where most of The Pitt was filmed. The set is very complicated, with glass walls, narrow hallways, and real medical equipment that makes it feel like a real emergency room. The crew even wore scrubs to blend in with the background and keep the glass from reflecting things by accident.
“We wanted to show how crazy and busy an actual emergency room is,” said Michael Hissrich, the show’s executive producer. “Filming in this environment feels like being in an actual hospital, which adds to the performances.”
John Wells, the show’s executive producer and a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, talked about his connection to the city. “The show’s identity was shaped in large part by Pittsburgh’s rich history and unique architecture,” Wells said. “Every ER in the country has a nickname. ‘The Pitt’ just seemed like the natural one to do.”
The Pitt does a great job of making its settings seem very real, from the streets of Pittsburgh to the carefully designed soundstages in California. The show’s mix of real places and creative set design shows how important place is to storytelling. When The Pitt starts on Max, viewers can expect not only a gripping drama but also a vivid picture of the city that inspired it. The Pitt is going to leave an indelible mark on the world of medical dramas, whether it’s the famous skyline or the intimate details of a hospital emergency room.
