BIG proposes a new neighborhood that works with the unique qualities of a steep site, providing a highly walkable and dynamic community while linking neighborhoods that have been historically separated.
This 28 acre, 2.5 million SF residential and mixed-use development is set between Pittsburgh’s financial downtown and the residential neighborhood of the Hill District.
What is currently an enormous parking lot is set to become a new home to thousands of Pittsburghers, a center of commerce and retail, and a major open space that builds upon the city’s reinvestment in the city center and its public spaces, while acting as a catalyst for underserved parts of the city.
The site is defined by steep slopes, characteristic of the Allegheny region, which demands a site-specific approach to accessibility and urbanism.
The project places pedestrians first, proposing a new network of parks and paths to supplement the traditional street grid, which is shaped to optimize the sloping hill for accessibility by all generations.
The resulting urban fabric combines a green network of effortless circulation with a distinctive character reminiscent of a historic downtown.
Building massing exaggerates the site’s topography, creating a landscape in the sky of terraced rooftops, adding a vibrant layer of social activity, optimized daylighting for both buildings + open spaces, and a sustainability strategy that combines on-site water retention with public and private amenities. Topography and accessibility are merged to create a new heart of Pittsburgh. Source by Bjarke Ingels
Location: Pittsburgh, USA
Architects: Bjarke Ingels Group
Partners in Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Daniel Sundlin
Project Leader: Jelena Vucic
Project Manager: Simon David
Project Team: Cheyenne Vandevoorde, Marcus Kujala, Nicolas Gustin, Ibrahim Salman, Terrence Chew, Peter Lee, Lasse Kristensen, Thomas Christoffersen
Collaborators: West 8, Atelier Ten, Massaro, Graves Design Group, La Quatra Bonci Associates, Mongalo-Winston Consulting, Michael Baker International, Sota Construction Services
Client: McCormack Baron Salazar & Pittsburgh Arena Real Estate Redevelopment
Area: 113300 m2
Year: 2015
Images: Courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group
