PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown II

[DKNewYork]

Yeah, I know---this is not Pittsburgh-related. But YIMBY just published BIG's renderings for an empty block along the Hudson. Figured it might be of interest given last week's announcement for the Civic Arena site.

http://www.yimbynews.com/2015/11/first-l...305-110779089&ct=t(YIMBY_News_11_23_2015)

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by DKNewYork

Yeah, I know---this is not Pittsburgh-related. But YIMBY just published BIG's renderings for an empty block along the Hudson. Figured it might be of interest given last week's announcement for the Civic Arena site.

http://www.yimbynews.com/2015/11/first-l...305-110779089&ct=t(YIMBY_News_11_23_2015)

Yes, thank you. I can see the similar style. BIG seems to be up to some very high profile projects. I really think they would be a great choice for Pittsburgh.

[TBone7281]

Strip Update

Smallman Place (10/29)




2500 Smallman (11/23) - looks like it is getting some final details added to the exterior. Looks pretty sweet to me.




The Yards @ 3 Crossings (11/23)




Riverfront East/West (11/23) - the Easter Seals building is now fenced off as they continue preparing for demo. (Green fencing on the right, past The Yards.)

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by eschaton

FWIW at my wife's firm I know there is a real "hierarchy of design," where architects who the principals like the work of are allowed to do the "high design" work, and those they do not are left to manage more routine/construction management type jobs. Thus it's pretty unlikely the firm will break from its current form any time soon.

I have to presume other firms largely work the same way. Which is why I intimated that if you think the fish stinks, it comes from the head, as the principals are the ones who set the design tone, meaning we're really only talking about perhaps 20 architects who effectively "lead" the entire local design community.

This is why one of my best friends left Pittsburgh for Seattle. They could never get over the design hierarchy. Now they're in Seattle designing gorgeous buildings. Pittsburgh firms need to feel scared, and they need to be threatened by outsiders. Our old guard of architects really needs shaken up.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Wally G

What do you think about Clevelands Flats East Bank project?

I am not super familiar with the project, but what I have seen makes it look very disconnected from the main downtown area, and those surface parking lots seem kinda awful:

[TBone7281]

2555 Smallman (Second office building for 3 Crossings)

10/29




11/5






11/9

[photoLith]

I almost mistook that corrugated metal siding mobile trailer in the above photo as part of the new building. It seems to be about as architecturally profound as the new developments in the strip and all over the city. I think it's what pittsburgh architects are using as their inspiration.

[Austinlee]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I almost mistook that corrugated metal siding mobile trailer in the above photo as part of the new building. It seems to be about as architecturally profound as the new developments in the strip and all over the city. I think it's what pittsburgh architects are using as their inspiration.

I could see that.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I am not super familiar with the project, but what I have seen makes it look very disconnected from the main downtown area, and those surface parking lots seem kinda awful:
]

Not to mention it also features as Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grille as one of the focal points.

[Austinlee]

US Steel has renewed its lease in the US Steel tower for another 1 1/2 years past the 2017 lease ending date. This will keep 450,000 sq ft of office space from hitting the market.

http://www.post-gazette.com/business/dev...t-tight-in-Downtown/stories/201511240065

Perhaps in an unintended pun, this was said:

If that is true — U.S. Steel hasn’t said — “That’s big,” said Jason Stewart, executive vice president of the Jones Lang LaSalle real estate firm.

B.I.G.

[Wally G]

Originally Posted by AaronPGH

This is why one of my best friends left Pittsburgh for Seattle. They could never get over the design hierarchy. Now they're in Seattle designing gorgeous buildings. Pittsburgh firms need to feel scared, and they need to be threatened by outsiders. Our old guard of architects really needs shaken up.

Yes it do my thoughts exactly and what i been driving at. Good to see outside firms like Big bringing something different to the table. Eschaton made a good point with the firms and hope architects like your friend comes back to the city.

[Wally G]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I almost mistook that corrugated metal siding mobile trailer in the above photo as part of the new building. It seems to be about as architecturally profound as the new developments in the strip and all over the city. I think it's what pittsburgh architects are using as their inspiration.

I am getting really tired of that corrugated metal look on these new buildings this is why outside firms really need to shake things up.

[Wally G]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I am not super familiar with the project, but what I have seen makes it look very disconnected from the main downtown area, and those surface parking lots seem kinda awful:

Yeah those surface parking lots do seem awful maybe they can change it one day. The project is disconnected with their downtown but maybe it will be their Southside Works. I seen phase three and it includes a movie theater and more retail. I was walking along the northshore and thought that we should have buildings where you can eat outside on multiple patios like the two in the rendering. Looking towards the point, Grill 36 don't have the same outdoor vibe.

[Austinlee]

Speaking of Cleveland, and I am a booster of Cleveland because what's good for them is good for us. We need this entire region to be strong.
Has anyone else noticed that new development projects tend to be mirrored in these two cities? For example, our stadium construction was nearly at the same time. As Pittsburgh rebuilt it's riverfront trails, Cleveland redid its lakefront. We built a starchitect convention center they built a top notch convention center (medical mart). We got PNC 3, they got the Ernst & Young Tower (very similar looking). We got the new Tower at PNC Plaza, they got a similar sized signature glass clad Hilton. They built a few new modern buildings at Cleveland State while Pitt & CMU put up some new modern buildings.
New midrise apartment buildings, at about equal rates in each city. We got the huge Hill District redevelopment, they announced the huge Flats mixed use development.

I can hardly think of a building that wasn't matched in the other city. I can't tell if it's peer pressure or just that our cities are that similar.

[JVC]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I almost mistook that corrugated metal siding mobile trailer in the above photo as part of the new building. It seems to be about as architecturally profound as the new developments in the strip and all over the city. I think it's what pittsburgh architects are using as their inspiration.

that's hilarious

[gg1]

Originally Posted by photoLith

I almost mistook that corrugated metal siding mobile trailer in the above photo as part of the new building. It seems to be about as architecturally profound as the new developments in the strip and all over the city. I think it's what pittsburgh architects are using as their inspiration.

I also at first glance thought the same. To be honest, that part is depressing, but you just can't build super nice places these days. Cheap and fast to get as much money to the top is all the matters. Nothing we can do about it these days.

[JVC]

Originally Posted by gg1

I also at first glance thought the same. To be honest, that part is depressing, but you just can't build super nice places these days. Cheap and fast to get as much money to the top is all the matters. Nothing we can do about it these days.

technically super nice places could be built, but they would require either super-wealthy tenants like 3 PNC plaza
or developers who valued architecture and the city much more than profit

in the meantime there is no shortage of stunning soviet-style architecture in the city



https://goo.gl/maps/TRGACEEM9Yt

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Austinlee

I can't tell if it's peer pressure or just that our cities are that similar.

I think it is mostly just similarity. Certainly I rarely hear anything explicit like "Cleveland is doing X so we should too." The only notable exception I can recall is the BRT plan for the Squirrel Hill-Oakland-Downtown corridor, which has been explicitly compared to the HealthLine in Cleveland. And that is a common thing in transportation circles (to look at similar projects in similar cities).

Just to toss in a related thought, I know that as the financial markets started unthawing during the recovery, there was increased talk among East Coast, national, and international investors about diversifying their investments, and the former Rust Belt cities (Pittsburgh, Cleveland, even Detroit, and so on) started being talked about as looking good for that purpose. Then my understanding is that the numbers turned out well on the initial wave of investments, and more started to follow.

So I do think there is sort of a regional perception change going on among major investors which is benefiting all of these cities at the same time.

[BrianTH]

Apparently at least some local residents are organizing in favor of the ice rink proposal for the Hunt Armory. I will admit this idea has grown on me as I have heard from various parents in the area who would view it as a desirable amenity:

http://www.nextpittsburgh.com/city-design/ice-rink-proposal-hunt-armory-skates-ahead/

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Apparently at least some local residents are organizing in favor of the ice rink proposal for the Hunt Armory. I will admit this idea has grown on me as I have heard from various parents in the area who would view it as a desirable amenity:
[/IMG]

I too have been swayed by Private Dick's impassioned advocacy of this ice rink proposal.