Point Park University's development of the Academic Village in Downtown will create 3,724 jobs and add $280 million to the economy, according to a study released today by the Pennsylvania Economy League.
"It will help create a vitality in this part of the city that is very much needed," said Dennis Yablonsky, CEO of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
Point Park President Paul Hennigan also announced this morning the hiring of Elmer B. Burger II as its first architect and planner. He will oversee the construction of the $244 million Academic Village project, which is expected to be completed in 2015.
Plans call for a parklet, new residence halls, classrooms, conversion of the old YMCA building into a student center and the relocation of the Pittsburgh Playhouse from Oakland to Forbes Avenue, Downtown.
In addition to hiring Burger, Point Park is using a $2 million grant from The Heinz Endowments to hire TKA Associates and Klavon Design to design a park at the corner of Wood Street and the Boulevard of the Allies and to hire GAI Consultants to design streetscape improvements along the Wood Street corridor.
