One International Center

[PghUSA]

Just wish it was TALLER, blast those post 9/11 fire insurance rates that squish everything down to a bland 6 floors

[tooluther]

Its actualy 9 stories, and its certainly not bland! I think its an awesome looking building. Although, I'm not so sure how it will fit in with the Quantum Buildings on the other side of Hot Metal.

[mjcatl2]

I'm having a hard time with that insurance reason. Other cities seem to be going taller. much taller.

[urbanophile]

Just wish it was TALLER, blast those post 9/11 fire insurance rates that squish everything down to a bland 6 floors

I don't think this is what is holding it down (though I think the post 9/11 insurance rates are a shameless attempt by the insurance industry to squeeze more dollars using 9/11 as a pretext). There really is no need to build tall in that area. The land is there and cheap (compared to other cities).

[Evergrey]

I think it's a sleek design... and a unique project... I don't think a taller building would be appropriate for this location... 9 stories seems fine... keep Carson St. human-scaled!

[PghUSA]

I stand corrected . . . it is taller then 6, though at first glance you dont seem to see the mezzaine and top floor b/c of the way it's designed.

Although I think Carson should be kept to human scale (great point by the way) I think you could do something creative, a tower or clocktower or way to stretch just a limited amout of the structure above the old 150-200 ft. range and make the Southside standout to someone taking in the Pittsburgh horizon. Doesn't even have to be habital space, just a nice architectural showcase that takes about 1/10th of the roof and rises high high above another 200 feet. Plus wasn't that SSW hotel supposed to be 15-20 floors? Is that still even in the works?

[UrbaniDesDev]

I don't know if it is related directly to the project, but the lot now has construction trailers

[tooluther]

Plus wasn't that SSW hotel supposed to be 15-20 floors? Is that still even in the works?

I would think so. I have an interview with Soffer this afternoon, so I'll find out for you.

[UrbaniDesDev]

Its actualy 9 stories, and its certainly not bland! I think its an awesome looking building. Although, I'm not so sure how it will fit in with the Quantum Buildings on the other side of Hot Metal.

from tooluther

I'm glad it doesn't attempt to fit with the Quantum Buildings. It is better, almost more enlightened. I always found them kind of dark and brooding and uninviting. The new American Eagle Hdqtrs is awkward. What's with all the black glass?

[blueblackcat]

I'm glad it doesn't attempt to fit with the Quantum Buildings. It is better, almost more enlightened. I always found them kind of dark and brooding and uninviting. The new American Eagle Hdqtrs is awkward. What's with all the black glass?

I think the design and the name itself suggests something hyper-corporate, but it's nicely done. I guess originally without a specific tennant in mind they were trying to take the one-size-fits-all black-cadillac approach. AE is going to have to really do something significant to make it look like they own the building and not the other way around!

[tooluther]

AE is going to have to really do something significant to make it look like they own the building and not the other way around!

There were cranes working on the building yesterday, but it looked like they were just doing something on the roof. Also, remember that AE will also be building a second building across the linear park on the "Quantum 3" parcel. I would imagine that it will retain some elements of the other quantum buildings, but also be more unique. I'd also imagine a large sign, or logo that can announced their precence on the parkway. I picture the new Bayer logo, but an Eagle instead.

As for the other riverfront development asked about...it is def. still planned, and its going to be awesome. No one will be complaining about heigh once they see the verticle plans. (ther horizontal plans are available to the public on the ssw website). Also still moving forward along the river are condos, a marina, a haufbroughous and beer garden, and river park. Plus there is still one more parking garage, one more office building, townhouses, a small retail building, and an "upscale" market...SSW is going to be even more impressive at build out. There is a huge scale model of the development in Soffer's management office there, it is very very cool.

[TheGerbil]

Wow! Did they mention when all this will get started? I am dying for them to build on the river there. And I'd love to see the scale model... But I would guess it isn't open to the public.

By the way I hope your interview went well

[PghUSA]

^^Thanks for the inside update Tooluther! I only wish that some of this would be complete or semi-complete for the ASG crowd and TV skyline shots. It is great great stuff but it reminds me that most that carry impressions of Pittsburgh for the next decade or so will have gotten that view just a few months before some areas of the city totally transformed themselves (northshore subway, casino, Southsied works hotel, resigned I-376 to the Ohio line and I-80 etc.)

[blueblackcat]

[snip] I'd also imagine a large sign, or logo that can announced their precence on the parkway. I picture the new Bayer logo, but an Eagle instead.

As for the other riverfront development asked about...it is def. still planned, and its going to be awesome. [snip]

I just hope the current AE banner suspended on cables from the Quantum 2 facade is just temporary.

I also hope they leave enough space for the riverfront trail so it can still be in a park-like setting.

[UrbaniDesDev]

Any news on the reconstruction of Carson Street through the SSW? It seems to me the work should have been completed by now.

I believe the plan is that the street is to be widened to the edge of the sidewalk shown above. It doesn't look good to have the this in this unresolved state, being such a succesful development.

[PghUSA]

^^I forgot all about that much-needed widening. I wonder what the hold up is. That could have a serious ripple-effect on downtown success and future development (national retailers and developers pointing to that bottleneck and lack of PennDot and city focus in correcting it as a reason to avoid Pittsburgh ).

I hope they can get this finished soon and the powers that be get focused on other future developments.

[blueblackcat]

^^I forgot all about that much-needed widening. I wonder what the hold up is. That could have a serious ripple-effect on downtown success and future development (national retailers and developers pointing to that bottleneck and lack of PennDot and city focus in correcting it as a reason to avoid Pittsburgh ).

I hope they can get this finished soon and the powers that be get focused on other future developments.

When will someone take out that ridiculous private parking lot under the Birmingham Bridge where Sidney Street should go? It's so stupid and such a waste of time to drive from Sidney to Carson and back to Sidney because of a chain-link fence underneath the bridge. South Side Works needs that street to fully connect it to the rest of the South Side.

[PghUSA]

^^excellent question Blue, I'm wondering if you should forward that over to Joe Grata at the PG, I'd love to hear PennDOT or the city try to logic their way out of that one.

[tooluther]

Keep in mind, any E. Carson project will only be around ssw and to the brimingham bridge. Obviously nothing major is going to happen west of the bridge intersection.

[PghUSA]

^^True tooluther that's how I read it as well, but they need to start thinking Macro with Carson, Station Square is only 10-15 blocks to the west and traffic there is a nightmare on concert nights . . . I realize central Carson is largely blocked in by close and historical structures, but either creatively widen it or set up Carson as an eastbound and Sidney as a westbound. Traffic in that area will explode in the coming decade.

[blueblackcat]

I'd like to see that extra width along E. Carson turned into metered parking and a pull-over bus stop with a built-up shelter. That will help traffic, too. In the long run I think 2nd Ave will be better suited to accomodate traffic by taking it through the former LTV site. We can hope for an LRT line, too. I think 10 years from now we might be talking about putting a subway under Sidney Street. That will be the ultimate fix.

[UrbaniDesDev]

I believe the plan for Carson was to widen it approximately from the Burmingham Bridge east. The green swath of grass between the sidewalk and the street is temporary. It will make room for street parking and a left turn lane. The street was to be completely redone, yet it sits there in a rather sorry state. I also wish Carson would be beautified along the river from the SSW easst to Homestead.

[PghUSA]

All great ideas . . . the critical danger in all of this becomes how prospective developers and national chains see this unfold. If they know that coming to Pittsburgh will be PennDOT redtape heck then they'll make sure and stay out. We need to show we are a 21st century city and get Carson modernized fast.

[TheGerbil]

I hope they keep the sidewalk wide and retain some green along the edge. I like the current look, and I like that there is room for outdoor tables.

[Evergrey]

I hope they keep the sidewalk wide and retain some green along the edge. I like the current look, and I like that there is room for outdoor tables.

Agreed. I really like the outdoor seating in front of Crazy Mocha.