PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by chiaroscuro

Wasn't Perkins+Will supposed to have presented their plans for the Almono site by now?

If I recall correctly, some forumer claimed to have inside knowlege on the design process. Perhaps they can illuminate us.

As for ALMONO itself, I always thought it was odd that you almost never hear any news about it. Are we certain it is progressing well? Perhaps the developers are just very secretive (who are the developers, anyway? I can't find any details about who is involved in ALMONO, LLC).

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

And I think that it is important to realize that in many cases of bad or bland design of new development in Pittsburgh, it is the work of non-local architects.

This is true. Perhaps I assigned too much blame on Pittsburgh architects specifically.

[BrianTH]

Personally, I doubt it is a fundamental lack of talent among the local architects. Nor, however, do I believe it is just a lack of financing. I think the additional element is a very conservative developer culture around here, which assumes (admittedly with some reason) that super-bland design is nonetheless easily marketable.

That said, we are seeing signs of some new developments pushing against that culture, and hopefully that is going to lead to a fundamental shift down the road.

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by Urbana

If I recall correctly, some forumer claimed to have inside knowlege on the design process. Perhaps they can illuminate us.

It was a total accident that I stumbled into a friend's place in SF (whose roommate was working on it), and got to see the fly-through video.

Just reached out to my buddy to see if they have any news. Will report back. It's been a few months though, I'm hoping this silence isn't a bad sign. =\

[BrianTH]

I have seen these around. Pretty intriguing:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...inging-microtransport-to-pittsburgh.html

[Topher51]

Originally Posted by Private Dick

Conceptual designs are just that, concepts. Good design is contextual, and takes into account all the associated limitations, and still ends up producing a notable structure. That's one of the things that separates very successful architects from those who design CVSs, AutoZones, and staircases and dining halls for assisted living complexes.

Well, you nailed it right there with "public forum"... urban architecture is as public as public gets.

I don't disagree with you about good contextual design, but conceptual design is taking the ideas of client, creating a building model, adding architectural aesthetics, and then telling them what it is going to cost. Most of the time the limitations are not fully understood and the developer hasn't set the construction budget at that time.

Fair point about the forum, but things tend to get pretty vicious in here (though in the case of the US Steel building, I was thinking a lot of what you all were saying).

[Private Dick]

Originally Posted by Topher51

I don't disagree with you about good contextual design, but conceptual design is taking the ideas of client, creating a building model, adding architectural aesthetics, and then telling them what it is going to cost. Most of the time the limitations are not fully understood and the developer hasn't set the construction budget at that time.

Fair point about the forum, but things tend to get pretty vicious in here (though in the case of the US Steel building, I was thinking a lot of what you all were saying).

True, I definitely understand your point and I know that I was oversimplifying the process. It's unfortunate, but many very good architects go into producing conceptual designs fully knowing that they will be sliced and diced. Yet they are still able to retain standard elements of good design and also are able to retain notable/unique features that results in a "good" final product even after all the slashing and burning of their art. The better architects seem like they are able to do this time and time again versus those that shrug their shoulders and say that their design was good, but it got value engineered. I consider the production of good design in the face of all the limitations on it to be part of the "science" component of architecture. I've taken architecture and design classes and do work with architects, but I'm no architect nor structural engineer, so I may be way off.

Which brings me to the thought that architects must have thick skins to be able to put their art on permanent (or at least long-lasting) public display. Their creations become part of people's lives and contributes to the very character and definition of a city -- which could be incredibly gratifying, or very hurtful depending on public reception. Architecture does elicit strong responses, but I guess it comes with the territory.

[BrianTH]

Oxford has hired Collier's to help broaden the marketing effort for its possible Downtown skyscraper:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...ings-in-outside-firm-to-help-market.html

I assume this means the marketing efforts to date have proven inadequate.

[Urbana]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Oxford has hired Collier's to help broaden the marketing effort for its possible Downtown skyscraper:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...ings-in-outside-firm-to-help-market.html

I assume this means the marketing efforts to date have proven inadequate.

They're persistent - I will give them that. But in all seriousness, I just can't imagine who they think they are going to get. US Steel was probably their best hope. So unless they plan on luring someone form out of town out of the blue, I don't like their chances.

[eschaton]

Speaking of Collier, what the hell is happening with the Iron City brewery redevelopment? Haven't heard anything regarding this in what seems like a year.

[East Edge]

Originally Posted by Urbana

So I was perusing the website of Design Collective (an architectural firm out of Baltimore) looking at their renderings of the Eastside III development.

For those interested, there are a couple interesting perspectives in there that are new to me.

A great deal more interesting than that, though, is that they also had a page dedicated to One Grandview project. It was reported in January that the Grandview developer was teaming up with Mosites to help bring the project to fruition and that there is renewed confidence. The number of apartments and parking spaces indicated on the architects' page matches the January article pretty closely - so hopefully we are looking at the first tangible evidence of this project's revival.

I must say, I think it is drop dead gorgeous.


source

It seems to be everything the shitty old design from Desmone was trying to be.

YES PLEASE!

[Austinlee]

This article names FOUR signature mid-rise/high-rise projects that have been announced so far are in limbo because of lack of anchor tenants needed to get the projects going. Two towers downtown, one on the Northshore and one at Southside Works.

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...fice-projects-in-Pittsburgh/201506110029

[BrianTH]

Yeah, all the developers in that article still sound confident--just like they have for years.

Meanwhile, Oxford's PTC project has collapsed:

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...hnology-Center-land/stories/201506110096

I'm not particularly upset about that one. It was a pretty modest project, and maybe the land would be better used for something beside just office.

[BrianTH]

Roundup of forthcoming new restaurants/bars--lots of action around Market Square and other places with ample recent development:

http://www.post-gazette.com/life/dining/...o-debut-this-summer/stories/201506110049

[Minivan Werner]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

This article names FOUR signature mid-rise/high-rise projects that have been announced so far are in limbo because of lack of anchor tenants needed to get the projects going. Two towers downtown, one on the Northshore and one at Southside Works.

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...fice-projects-in-Pittsburgh/201506110029

Whatever happened to the natural gas companies wanting a regional HQ? Are they all in Southpointe?

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by Minivan Werner

Whatever happened to the natural gas companies wanting a regional HQ? Are they all in Southpointe?

I wonder if the crash of nat gas prices has stopped most of that stuff?

[Private Dick]

The chances of luring an energy firm (here for the Marcellus) that is large enough to warrant anchor tenant status in a "signature" downtown Pittsburgh office tower location is not good. They'll lease office space close to the airport or easily accessible to where there field operations are... and major management functions will be gone or downsize as soon as the next more profitable gas field is discovered/developed.

For all of the activity in the region, much of the management for these companies operating here (management that would necessitate or even desire a downtown office tower) are still located in Oklahoma and Texas and elsewhere, and they're not going to move here for operations in the Marcellus. Longer term endeavors in production, like Shell's proposed plant, maybe.

[psuhoops123]

I wouldn't mind if this project never happens... The building gives me anxiety, the prison looks better than this.

[themaguffin]

...that image size gives me anxiety.

[BrianTH]

Apple is taking about half the space in Oxford's first Three Crossings office building:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/bl...e-to-take-bite-out-of-oxfords-three.html

Very interesting--all of a sudden The Strip is Pittsburgh's Silicon Valley.