$600M Development will Transform Pittsburgh’s Riverfront

by sarah_bauder | February 12, 2025 9:20 am

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Global design firm AE7, in collaboration with developer Piatt Companies, will transform 157,935 m² (1.7 million sf) of abandoned Ohio riverfront industrial space. Development plans have been approved for a new $600 million mixed-use waterfront district. Located in downtown Pittsburgh, it is expected to support 7,100 jobs over its six-year, two-phase timeline.

Covering approximately 6 ha (15 acre), the Esplanade project features 480 apartments, 20 percent of which are affordable units, 105 condominium units, a 225-room hotel with event space, 487 m (1,600 f) of waterfront, and community amenities such as a splash park, an aquarium, recreation trails, a grocery store, public art, a museum, four integrated parking structures, a 24,619 m² (265,000 sf) life sciences office building, and a 50-meter Ferris wheel.

Primary materials used for the development project include metal panel exteriors, glass, concrete, brick, and metal. Solar panels will be featured throughout the roof and facade.

The Esplanade will generate additional regional benefits through tax revenues and job creation, which will bolster key industries as well as public and household revenues. It is expected to generate $75.3M annually after completion in addition to $58.1M in one-time tax revenues during construction. Further, the development project leverages financing tools, such as Transportation Revitalization Investment Districts (TRID), to link transportation improvements with land development.

Site preparation and building design is slated to commence in 2025.

Source URL: https://www.metalarchitecture.com/news/daily-news/600m-development-pittsburgh-riverfront/

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