U.S. Steel headquarters architects open to revised design
Architects designing the new headquarters for U.S. Steel at the site of the former Civic Arena said Thursday they're willing to tweak their plans based on feedback from city officials, including Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto.
Developers from Chicago-based Clayco Realty Group met with Peduto, who said plans are “progressing” but acknowledged he thinks improvements should be made to the project's “monolithic” design.
“U.S. Steel is part of Pittsburgh's history,” Peduto said. “We want to see it as part of its future, and whatever that building is they decide to be in, it should reflect both, both the past and future of what this entire site will be.”
The building design presented at a city planning commission meeting March 10 is a five-story, rectangular glass and steel structure. Chairwoman Christine Mondor said it lacks an identity and looks like it belonged in a suburban office park.
Peduto endorsed Mondor's comments.
“Instead of a monolithic structure,” Peduto said, he wants to see “one that was more in line with what Pittsburgh's architecture” is.
Specifically, Peduto said, he doesn't like the design of the flat, L-shaped roof and building facade materials.
The building is the first to be built on the 28-acre site, owned by the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority. The Pittsburgh Penguins have exclusive development rights to the site. Clayco's construction and design budget must stay within the terms of U.S. Steel's undisclosed lease. Peduto said he understands Clayco's financial constraints, but he underscored the importance of the building, which will be the first on the site.
“We have to make sure the quality of the building, for the first building, that goes in is setting the tone for the others,” he said.
Clayco CEO Bob Clark said after meeting with Peduto that positive changes are under way.
“We're hearing the mayor loud and clear,” Clark said. “We're refining the design, both in the context of what U.S. Steel's needs are and what the city is pushing really hard for.”
New plans will be presented at a planning commission hearing next week. Architect Chris Cedergreen said redrafting the design does not change the timeline to break ground on the project this year.
“It doesn't happen overnight, and it's a process,” he said.
Melissa Daniels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-8511 or mdaniels@tribweb.com.
