HIGH POINT PARK INVESTIGATION 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

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 a nd orientation.

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

KEY CONCEPTS 1. GET TO THE TOP 3. CONNECT TO PITTSBURGH’S GREEN FUTURE 2. TAKE A WALK IN THE SKY

THE BACKGROUND STORY IN 2001 WHEN CLOSURE WAS ANNOUNCED FOR “TOP OF THE TRIANGLE” RESTAURANT ON 62 ND 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 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 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 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: 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 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 $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