Carnegie Mellon University participants
David Bear: STUDIO for Creative Inquiry Fellow
Daniel Nagin: University Professor, Heinz College
Bob Bingham: Professor, School of Art
Christine Mondor: Professor, School of Architecture
Matthew Dooley: Adjunct Professor, Heinz College
Pittsburgh Participants
Ray Werner: Creative Consultant
Jim Rogal: Century Communications
Jamie Clemente: McCamish
STUDIO for Creative Inquiry administration
Golan Levin: STUDIO Director and
Associate Professor School of Art
Margaret Myers: Associate Director
Jennifer Brodt: Business Manager
HIGH
POINT
PARK
INVESTIGATION
Since 1970,
Pittsburgh has had
bragging rights to a
site that is singular
in the entire world.
The problem
is, nobody
realized it.
The U.S. Steel Tower’s triangular roof of nearly one
acre is the “largest roof in the world at its height.”
*Emporis Gmbh
The U. S. Steel Tower's footprint mimics
Pittsburgh’s Point in both outline and orientation.
How can Pittsburgh best use
this most prominent of
platforms?
KEY CONCEPTS
1. GET TO THE TOP
2. TAKE A WALK IN THE SKY
3. CONNECT TO PITTSBURGH’S
GREEN FUTURE
THE BACKGROUND STORY
IN 2001 WHEN CLOSURE WAS ANNOUNCED FOR “TOP OF THE TRIANGLE” RESTAURANT ON 62ND FLOOR OF U. S. STEEL TOWER, DAVID BEAR,
THEN POST-GAZETTE TRAVEL EDITOR, WRITES COLUMN PROPOSING “PITTSBURGH PROMINADE”. THEN THE 9/11 DISASTER HAPPENED.
THE IDEA WAS SHELVED UNTIL SPRING 2007, WHEN UPMC LEASES THE 62ND FLOOR. BEAR WRITES SECOND COLUMN
SUGGESTING A “UPMC PROMENADE.” MORE THAN 3000 PG READERS RESPOND ENDORCING THE IDEA. BUT UPMC HAS
OTHER PLANS.
WEEKS LATER WHILE LOOKING AT A SATELLITE IMAGE OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH, BEAR SEES TOWER’S TRIANGUAL ONEACRE ROOF AND RECOGNIZES THE POTENTIAL IT PRESENTS.
IN JANUARY 2009, THE STUDIO FOR CREATIVE INQUIRY AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY AWARDS BEAR A FELLOWSHIP TO
INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITIES AND REALITIES OF TRANSFORMING THE ROOF INTO A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE , SELFSUSTAINING FACILITY.
GET TO THE TOP
changing perspectives
Downtown first-day attraction and visitor center
Spectacular view of urban landscape
Pittsburgh’s premier and gathering place
Center of southwestern Pennsylvania
Celestial observatory
A unique public/private partnership
TAKE A WALK IN THE SKY
experience “High Point”
The highest green space in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the United States and the
World!
A fair weather gathering area open to sky and city
A weather protected indoor venue
A spectacular setting for social events and business gatherings
CONNECT TO
PITTSBURGH’S GREEN FUTURE
energy, resources, & landscape
Interactive learning environment lets students and visitors connect to area
environmental initiatives
Innovation showcase for regional, green partners, manufacturers and products
Sustainable strategies for architectural and engineering design, energy production,
and other leading technologies
Incorporation of cutting-edge, energy-producing technologies to create “Downtown
Dynamo”
HIGH POINT PARK “URBAN-ARIUM” features
SPECTACULAR VIEWPOINT of America’s best urban panorama
INFORMATIONAL ALCOVES on Pittsburgh area’s history, people, geography,
commerce
All-season VENUES for myriad gatherings
A CELESTIAL OBSERVATORY
REFERRAL DISPLAY KIOSKS to other area CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS and ASSETS
VITUAL VOYAGER Google-satellite image transporter
High-Visibility Facility Will Become a
Rallying Point for Many Constituencies
Political sector
City, County, State, and Federal
Civic advocates
Tourism community
Downtown boosters
Energy and solar sector
Green-building interests
Prospective Project Partners
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy*
Visitpittsburgh.com*
City of Pittsburgh
Allegheny County
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
CB Richard Ellis – 600 GS Ltd.
Allegheny Conference
Riverlife
Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership
Green Building Alliance
Sustainable Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Rivers of Steel
US Steel
ALCOA
PPG
PNC
Westinghouse
McKamish
*already issued
letter of support
This unique, challenging, high-profile project will attract a
myriad of professional and technical partners
Concept and design
Organizational structure
Construction
Facility management
Promotion & marketing
Future of programming opportunities
Possible Project Cost Assumptions
40,000-square-foot facility including:
1
30,000-square-foot sustainable green roof
2
600 linear feet glass perimeter curtain wall
3
two-story structure with 7,000-square-foot per floor and
2,500 sq ft roof deck
($40-$60/square foot)
($300 to $400/sq ft, considering access difficulties, utilities, conditioning etc.)
4
high-speed elevator roof access through existing
service shaft from lower lobby
Possible Project Construction Costs
Design & Management
$1M – $1.35M
Green roof
$1.2M – $1.8M
Perimeter wall
$1M-$1.5M
Other improvements
$250,000
Elevator access
$750,000
Structure
$4.2M – $5.6M
Estimate range
$8.4M – $11.25M
Possible sources for capital support
Foundations
Area companies showcasing their products
Civic participants
Public sources (city, county, state, federal)
Grants from solar and sustainable funders
Public membership and subscriptions
A park that pays for itself
Access to park via elevator/s and paid tickets
Estimated annual visitors 275,000 @ $15
$4,125,000
Estimated annual facility rentals
$225,000
Estimated merchandise sales
$650,000
Estimated annual revenue
$5,000,000
Income will cover operating costs and more
Portion of excess revenues could help support other area parks