PITTSBURGH | Development Rundown III

[pj3000]

Some new renderings of the proposed and much-maligned (by the Planning Commission) Strip District office tower. Looks like they broke up the single mass and threw a light feature and some greenery (that will not survive) on to appease the self-righteous protectors of Pittsburgh.

Switching bait: Developer makes big changes to massive Strip District office tower

JMC hopes city will approve 'mini-towers'

https://www.post-gazette.com/busines...s/202011180166

Two months after being rebuffed by the Pittsburgh Planning Commission, JMC Holdings is proposing to carve the structure into four “mini-towers” — including one that would rise two stories higher than the 21 originally envisioned.

Two others “mini-towers” would remain at 21 stories and the other would be 19.

The complex at 1501 Penn Ave. will actually look higher than 23 stories in the middle because of the addition of translucent glass that will glow at night and hide rooftop mechanical equipment.

In materials presented to the commission for a briefing Tuesday, the developer is hoping to change such sentiments. It stated that the building is at its highest on the west end facing Downtown while the smallest of the mini-towers faces the Strip.

In addition, New York-based JMC is proposing to build outdoor terraces at the top of each of the four mini-towers and on a section of the complex that features street level retail and seven levels of parking.

There also would be balconies on office floors.

In all, the tallest of the mini towers would consist of one level of retail, seven levels of parking, an amenity level, and 14 office levels.

With the new design, the idea is to break down the massing and the scale by creating the mini-towers of varying heights and by adding terraces and balconies, JMC stated in its proposal.

In a bid to further dress up the design, the developer plans to indent the corners in each of the towers and make the glass more horizontal and detailed.

JMC also is paying more attention to the street level in an effort to address commission concerns about a raised colonnade along the Smallman Street side of the building that is to serve as public space.

Some commission members felt the covered colonnade, which included bleacher seating, might not feel welcoming.

To address such issues, JMC extended the bleacher seating and steps the entire length of the Smallman Street frontage and added bleachers to an adjacent plaza.

Furthermore, it increased the width of the colonnade by more than four feet and widened the plaza by 12 feet. It also added an accessibility ramp at the middle of Smallman and made other accessibility improvements.