Slide 1

HIGHPOINTPARK

INVESTIGATION

Carnegie Mellon University participantsDavid Bear: STUDIO for Creative Inquiry FellowDaniel Nagin: University Professor, Heinz CollegeBob Bingham: Professor, School of ArtChristine Mondor: Professor, School of ArchitectureMatthew Dooley: Adjunct Professor, Heinz CollegePittsburgh ParticipantsRay Werner: Creative Consultant Jim Rogal: Century CommunicationsJamie Clemente: McCamish

STUDIO for Creative Inquiry administrationGolan Levin: STUDIO Director and Associate Professor School of ArtMargaret Myers: Associate DirectorJennifer Brodt: Business Manager 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 Towers triangular roof of nearly one acre is the largest roof in the world at its height. *Emporis GmbhThe U. S. Steel Tower's footprint mimics Pittsburghs Point in both outline and orientation.

?How can Pittsburgh best use this most prominent of platforms?

KEY CONCEPTS

1. GET TO THE TOP

3. CONNECT TO PITTSBURGHS GREEN FUTURE2. TAKE A WALK IN THE SKY Get to the top | change your perspectiveFirst day attraction [information alcoves]View of spectacular urban landscape [virtual voyager]Urban and celestial observatories [urbanarium]Beacon for SWPARallying point for constituenciesUnique public/private partnership

Take a walk in the park | experience High PointPittsburghs highest green spaceThe Great Space will be a fair weather gathering area open to sky and cityWeather protected venueWeddings, events, social functions, business gatherings

Connect to the environment | make it greenDemonstration of environmentally friendly systems and strategiesLearning environment for schools and visitors to connect to regional environmental initiativesInnovation park for regional partners, manufacturers and productsSustainable design strategies for architectural and engineering design, green roofs, energy production, and other leading technologies

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 TOWERS TRIANGUAL ONE-ACRE 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 , SELF-SUSTAINING FACILITY.

GET TO THE TOPchanging perspectivesDowntown first-day attraction and visitor center Spectacular view of urban landscapePittsburghs premier and gathering placeCenter of southwestern PennsylvaniaCelestial observatoryA unique public/private partnership

TAKE A WALK IN THE SKY experience High PointThe highest green space in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the United States and the World!A fair weather gathering area open to sky and cityA weather protected indoor venueA spectacular setting for social events and business gatheringsCONNECT TO PITTSBURGHS GREEN FUTURE energy, resources, & landscapeInteractive learning environment lets students and visitors connect to area environmental initiativesInnovation showcase for regional, green partners, manufacturers and productsSustainable strategies for architectural and engineering design, energy production, and other leading technologiesIncorporation of cutting-edge, energy-producing technologies to create Downtown DynamoHIGH POINT PARK URBAN-ARIUM features

SPECTACULAR VIEWPOINT of Americas best urban panorama

INFORMATIONAL ALCOVES on Pittsburgh areas 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 ConstituenciesPolitical sector City, County, State, and Federal Civic advocatesTourism communityDowntown boostersEnergy and solar sectorGreen-building interestsProspective Project PartnersPittsburgh Parks Conservancy*Visitpittsburgh.com*City of PittsburghAllegheny CountyCommonwealth of PennsylvaniaCB Richard Ellis 600 GS Ltd.Allegheny ConferenceRiverlife Downtown Pittsburgh PartnershipGreen Building AllianceSustainable PittsburghPittsburgh Cultural TrustRivers of Steel

US SteelALCOAPPGPNCWestinghouseMcKamish

*already issued letter of supportThis unique, challenging, high-profile project will attract a myriad of professional and technical partnersConcept and design Organizational structure ConstructionFacility managementPromotion & marketingFuture of programming opportunities

Possible Project Cost Assumptions40,000-square-foot facility including:30,000-square-foot sustainable green roof ($40-$60/square foot)

600 linear feet glass perimeter curtain wall

two-story structure with 7,000-square-foot per floor and 2,500 sq ft roof deck ($300 to $400/sq ft, considering access difficulties, utilities, conditioning etc.)

high-speed elevator roof access through existing service shaft from lower lobby1

2

3

4

Possible Project Construction Costs Design & Management$1M $1.35MGreen roof$1.2M $1.8MPerimeter wall$1M-$1.5MOther improvements$250,000Elevator access$750,000Structure$4.2M $5.6MEstimate range$8.4M $11.25MPossible 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 itselfAccess to park via elevator/s and paid tickets

Estimated annual visitors 275,000 @ $15$4,125,000 Estimated annual facility rentals $225,000Estimated merchandise sales $650,000Estimated annual revenue$5,000,000

Income will cover operating costs and more

Portion of excess revenues could help support other area parks