Project Challenges and Outcomes

Challenges

Burns & Scalo tasked the project team with developing unique architecture within the budget framework of a speculative office building.  The challenge would be to maximize building area on a site limited by size of available land, and topography and solve zoning restrictions imposed by a site nestled between a highway and a residential community.  DLA+ would need to create a contemporary building that visually related to the context of a previously constructed office structure on adjacent property to reinforce a campus concept for the developer.  All this would need to be accomplished while meeting sustainability requirements for Class G building.

Outcomes

The four story, approximately 42,000 SF building is a highly visible structure that offers its tenants comfortable work space, abundant daylight, and the benefit of solar power.  The design team worked with the owner on the creation of a solar array.  Dubbed by the owner the “Solar Wing”, the array is an architectural feature.  The 44kw bi-facial panel system accounts for 10% of the building electric  consumption.  The “Solar Wing” also carries a significant tax incentive thanks to the inclusion of the steel frame, and roofing membrane in the system’s design.

After working with the owner on several models of the building in BIM, the selected materials achieve a balance of exterior materials.  Red brick, white curtain wall system and spandrel glass, and a combination gray tone ACM panels closely relate to the materials palette of the adjacent existing building.  The “Diamond”, a cantilevered volume on the building’s upper floors, is intended to be tenant amenity housing gathering and collaboration spaces. It offers views of the surrounding landscape, and downtown Pittsburgh.

The Owner occupied the fourth floor of the building and leased over half of the space in the year since construction was completed on the building.