NSF-Funded Bridges-3 Will Continue Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center’s Focus on High-Performance Computing, Serving National Research and Education Goals
A $10-million grant from the National Science Foundation will allow the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center to build Bridges-3, the center’s next flagship supercomputer.
Expanding on the capabilities of its predecessor, Bridges-2, Bridges-3 will offer an array of different types of computational nodes that allow users to leverage cutting-edge technologies in complex projects that require seamless integration of different types of computation. Graphics processing units (GPUs), needed for demanding AI training jobs and accelerated simulation, and computation-intensive central processing units (CPUs) will be paired with large memory via an InfiniBand network to ensure computational tasks can move efficiently between the nodes best suited to each step of calculation.
“The system design reflects the practices successfully established through the Bridges family: selecting technologies that support a wide range of scientific disciplines, enabling flexible workflows, and ensuring that users at varying levels of experience can make productive use of the system,” said Bruno Abreu, PSC’s Deputy Scientific Director and Principal Investigator for Bridges-3. “It maintains all the capabilities of its predecessor while offering state-of-the-art GPUs and CPUs that deliver substantial performance improvements for modeling, simulation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.”
Consistent with the NSF FY2026–2030 Strategic Plan, Bridges-3 will sustain national research excellence by supplying production cyberinfrastructure essential to scientific advancement; support STEM workforce development through comprehensive training, internships, and classroom integration; and advance modernized CI operations through the deployment of state-of-the art computing technologies, expanded user‑support practices, and reliable integration with ecosystem resources. The system will combine NVIDIA B200 GPU servers, high‑core‑count AMD CPU nodes, an all‑flash Lustre file system, and an XDR/NDR InfiniBand network. The software environment will retain the familiar interfaces, tools, and frameworks used on Bridges‑2, easing the transition for thousands of current users. Integration of selected Bridges‑2 nodes and connectivity to the Leadership‑Class Computing Facility (LCCF) data system further extends the value and continuity of existing community workflows.
Bridges-3 will continue PSC’s 40-year history of supporting broad segments of the U.S. research and education community, including institutions without local HPC resources, emerging research programs, classroom use cases, and users new to advanced cyberinfrastructure. The system will be allocated primarily through ACCESS and the NAIRR Pilot, ensuring open availability and broad access. PSC will expand its workforce development activities, building on the training, workshops, internships, and Learning Lab modules that have been refined through Bridges‑2. These programs support learners at multiple levels, from undergraduates to experienced researchers, and help broaden participation in computational and data‑intensive fields.
“Our continued support of the national research community is at the heart of everything we do at PSC,” said Barr von Oehsen, PSC’s Executive Director. “With Bridges-3, we’re not just upgrading hardware, we’re renewing our promise to serve the researchers, educators, and students across the country who depend on open, accessible, high-performance computing to advance their work.”
Construction of Bridges-3 by Hewlett Packard Enterprise is expected to begin at PSC’s new data center in early 2027, with full operations expected in the summer.