US Steel new HQ Building (Pittsburgh: leasing, motel, tenant)

[guy2073]

I am more disappointed that the penguins picked an out of state contractor to build the building.

[_Buster]

Pretty awful building, and totally out of place. They are re-making the mistakes of the civic arena all over again, 50 years later on the same exact site.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by youngabe

The building is ugly, it isn't architecturally significant enough, it isn't tall enough, it doesn't have enough bathrooms, whatever--let's just be glad they didn't end up in Houston or elsewhere, which was rumored at one point.

There is either a lot of Frederick Law Olmstead reincarnations lurking on this board or people just like to slam and dis absolutely everything remotely positive that happens...not sure which one it is.

I get that it's a good thing the company remained in Pittsburgh, but that in no way excuses the flat out suburban design of this building that sprawls on such a prime piece of land adjacent to downtown. It's time for Pittsburgh to get past the "ANY development is good development, who cares what it looks like" mindset. This is an important site and essentially an extension of downtown..at least it could've been.

[captainmidnight]

The building looks alright, but I agree it is underwhelming. Let’s not forget it will be across the street from the equally underwhelming Consol Energy Center. I bet if USS wanted to build a skyscraper I’m sure someone from the Upper Hill would have complained about it blocking the view of downtown. Plus the thinking could have been, “We are already housed in a skyscraper. Why build another one?” Still I am surprised they went ahead with building a new location. With their cost cutting they have been doing, I thought this plan would have been shelved because of the expense and because it was a plan from the previous regime. Wonder when the cost will be released?

That being said, this will work good for USS. It will end up being their nicest offices ever. I think it reflects their current (and perhaps future) position in Pittsburgh as an important employer but not some giant behemoth massive player like 40-50 years ago. Plus, I’m sure a giant new skyscraper would have looked bad for them, especially to investors. Perhaps this was the best development option for the Penguins after exploring everything? This is better than nothing though.
Keep in mind the relocation plans were started under former CEO John Surma who is part owner of the Penguins. Plus in October, Corbett announced the state was giving USS $30 million dollars in funding for projects in the area and I bet a contingency of accepting that money was some sort of agreement to work with the Penguins (with help of the Penguins lobbying Corbett, who knows). The various rumors about relocating to by the airport, the Strip, Houston, Indiana, Southpointe, etc may have been smokescreens to get a better deal. The skeptic in me wants to think those are all connected.

I used to work for USS and early last year they sent around a survey to headquarters employees asking for opinions on relocation. If I remember, a good bit of questions revolved around the current location and asked about the company relocating to another part of Downtown and the employee’s opinions of that.

So five floors, I am assuming the entire top floor will be for executives (I know if I was an executive I would hate to leave the 61st floor of the USS Tower. Such an awesome view) . That leaves four floors for everyone else. USS occupies eight entire floors in the USS Tower and two partial floors. They have three departments at Penn Liberty Plaza in the Strip and Information Technology offices on Muriel Street in the Southside. I assuming these will all be consolidated in the new building. With each floor space being slightly larger than the USS Tower I guess it could work. It might be a tight fit though.

All in all, a win for Pittsburgh, the region, and USS.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

The building looks alright, but I agree it is underwhelming. Let’s not forget it will be across the street from the equally underwhelming Consol Energy Center. I bet if USS wanted to build a skyscraper I’m sure someone from the Upper Hill would have complained about it blocking the view of downtown. Plus the thinking could have been, “We are already housed in a skyscraper. Why build another one?” Still I am surprised they went ahead with building a new location. With their cost cutting they have been doing, I thought this plan would have been shelved because of the expense and because it was a plan from the previous regime. Wonder when the cost will be released?

That being said, this will work good for USS. It will end up being their nicest offices ever. I think it reflects their current (and perhaps future) position in Pittsburgh as an important employer but not some giant behemoth massive player like 40-50 years ago. Plus, I’m sure a giant new skyscraper would have looked bad for them, especially to investors. Perhaps this was the best development option for the Penguins after exploring everything? This is better than nothing though.
Keep in mind the relocation plans were started under former CEO John Surma who is part owner of the Penguins. Plus in October, Corbett announced the state was giving USS $30 million dollars in funding for projects in the area and I bet a contingency of accepting that money was some sort of agreement to work with the Penguins (with help of the Penguins lobbying Corbett, who knows). The various rumors about relocating to by the airport, the Strip, Houston, Indiana, Southpointe, etc may have been smokescreens to get a better deal. The skeptic in me wants to think those are all connected.

I used to work for USS and early last year they sent around a survey to headquarters employees asking for opinions on relocation. If I remember, a good bit of questions revolved around the current location and asked about the company relocating to another part of Downtown and the employee’s opinions of that.

So five floors, I am assuming the entire top floor will be for executives (I know if I was an executive I would hate to leave the 61st floor of the USS Tower. Such an awesome view) . That leaves four floors for everyone else. USS occupies eight entire floors in the USS Tower and two partial floors. They have three departments at Penn Liberty Plaza in the Strip and Information Technology offices on Muriel Street in the Southside. I assuming these will all be consolidated in the new building. With each floor space being slightly larger than the USS Tower I guess it could work. It might be a tight fit though.

All in all, a win for Pittsburgh, the region, and USS.

How many people work in those various places, total? The PG article says the new building will be for 800.

Also, 250K square feet for offices and the remainder for retail and a "museum to honor the region’s steel heritage".

[captainmidnight]

Originally Posted by doo dah

How many people work in those various places, total? The PG article says the new building will be for 800.

Also, 250K square feet for offices and the remainder for retail and a "museum to honor the region’s steel heritage".

I would say 1,300-1,400 total back then. I left USS before the headquarters layoffs happened in spring and early summer and I think a couple hundred jobs were cut so it might be around 900-1,100 now, but I am not sure.

[Evergrey]

I was really prepared to be disappointed by the announcement of some 12-15 mid-rise... but this 5-story building turd exceeds every low expectation I had. On the positive front... at least it preserves the precious 'viewshed" from the Crawford Square houses.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by JoeP

I'm talking about the worst case for the land, not where US Steel goes. They were never going to go far.
Perhaps the airport and given the use of land, that's exactly where they belong.

This is not appropriate use of the land.

Agreed... US Steel was never going to leave the region... but they successfully played the game to get $30.7 million in bribes from the state to 'reaffirm their commit to Pennsylvania'.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Confirmed at 5 stories, 268,000 square feet.

That means it's 53,600 feet per floor roughly - 1.23 acres per floor. Slightly larger floor plates than the UMPC building.

Given the pictures, my guess is the building will stretch from Centre to Wylie, with the bend following the planned cross street. I think there'll be a big useless patch of green space in the front too.

Renderings show a windswept concrete plaza. Yay Pittsburgh urbanism!

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by raynist

Only about 800ft shorter than their old HQ.........

Why even build downtown???

That's a very good question. Generous tax credits in addition to their $30.7M bribe from the state, perhaps.