Two big office developments made the news last week, both on the fringe of the Golden Triangle. Projects like these, and the boom in the Strip District, show the potential for the central business district to burst its traditional boundaries.
The developers of the former Civic Arena site revealed their plans for a $100 million mixed-use development that is far closer to reality than expected. The Cuccini/Pollin Group unveiled details of the project, which includes 810,000 square feet of office, 190,000 square feet of retail, 50,000 square feet of entertainment, and a 220-room hotel. The first office is rumored to be a mid-rise with a corporate HQ tenant as a lead. Names like FNB and Peoples Gas have been linked to the project.
Intergen Real Estate Group will be responsible for the residential phases of the Arena site, led by KBK Enterprises, the Keith Key company that has redeveloped former Housing Authority of City of Pittsburgh communities in the Hill and is currently working in Larimer.
Trammel Crow announced plans for three office buildings, totaling 400,000 square feet, earlier last week. The project will develop along East Carson Street, just east of Station Square and immediately behind the Glass House apartments that Rycon Construction is building for Trammel Crow now. Plans also include a new hotel. The first of the buildings will be branded Glass Works and will be 120,000 square feet. The other buildings will be dubbed Bottle Works and Forge Works. Trammel Crow is working on landing a lead tenant now, but has not ruled out going the speculative route. No CM has been hired.
Franjo Construction was awarded the $10 million Friendship Hub at the Allegheny Center Alliance Church on the North Side. Franjo also started construction on the $20 million conversion of the Commonwealth Building into 150 apartments. The Mascaro/Barton Malow team was selected by Pitt to build its $90 million Student Recreation Center. Turner Construction was awarded the $14 million Ostermayer Lab at Penn State Greater Allegheny Campus in McKeesport. Penn State has its $310 million College of Engineering buildings out for CM proposals, to be awarded in May.