What's New in Pittsburgh
From a new Downtown hotel to the first airport in the world completely powered by natural gas and solar energy, read on to check out what’s new in Pittsburgh!
When Condé Nast Traveler named Pittsburgh "one of the nation's most underrated cities," it was a major clue that a city once known for its bustling steel industry had become a hot travel destination. Pittsburgh now boasts a booming tech industry and world-breaking sustainability initiatives, placing the city as a top destination to live, work and travel.
Pittsburgh International Airport Updates
The award-winning Pittsburgh International Airport continues to expand and improve with the development of the Terminal Modernization Program, a $1.4 billion effort to transform the airport experience in Pittsburgh. Breaking ground in October 2021, the new 700,000-square-foot terminal will include key design features like large outdoor terraces and touchless processes. Operations including ticketing, baggage handling, security, ground transportation and concessions will be consolidated and streamlined for a post-pandemic world. And, the region’s commitment to sustainability will be evident throughout construction and operation of the new terminal, with an aim to comply with LEED® Silver certification and an intent to reduce overall energy, emissions, water and waste across airport facilities by 2030. The anticipated opening date of the Terminal Modernization Program is early 2025.
Beyond the new terminal, Pittsburgh International Airport reached an incredible milestone when it established its own microgrid based on on-site natural gas wells and solar power. It’s the first airport in the world to be completely powered by natural gas and solar energy. Consisting of five natural gas-fueled generators and nearly 10,000 solar panels, the microgrid can produce more than 20 megawatts of electricity (the airport’s current peak demand is approximately 14 megawatts). This initiative increases resilience and maximizes public safety.
Neighborhood 91
A collaboration between the Pittsburgh International Airport, Arencibia, University of Pittsburgh, The Barnes Global Advisors, Wabtec Corporation and Rusal brings you one of the city’s latest initiatives - Neighborhood 91. Pittsburgh has 90 unique neighborhoods, and Neighborhood 91 will be a game-changer for the additive manufacturing (AM) industry.
Neighborhood 91 is the first development in the world to both condense and connect all components of the AM/3D Printing supply chain into one powerful production ecosystem. The ultimate mission is to advance the region’s role as a world leader while maximizing the airport’s assets including land development surrounding the terminal. Within five years, Neighborhood 91 is expected to be a fully thriving campus.
David L. Lawrence Convention Center’s Rooftop Boulevard
Pittsburgh's environmentally smart Platinum LEED®-certified David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC) features a dynamic architectural design offering breathtaking views, open terraces and suspended roof structure. Recently, the DLCC unveiled Rooftop Boulevard, a $3 million renovated outdoor feature located on the building’s fourth level. The outdoor space, built to host up to 300 people, is furnished with teak seating fixtures, innovative uplighting and plants native to Western Pennsylvania. Rooftop Boulevard is also home to a 688-foot LED tube art installation created by American neo-conceptual artist Jenny Holzer. The “green” rooftop boasts a water filtration system that retains rainfall allowing the roof to self-water and pollution control, ultimately removing 680 pounds of particulate matter pollution from the air annually.
The Garden Room at the National Aviary
Elegant and versatile are two words that describe the latest event space at Pittsburgh’s iconic bird zoo, the National Aviary. From weddings to corporate events, The Garden Room offers exceptional views of Allegheny Commons Park and Lake Elizabeth and can comfortably accommodate up to 175 guests. Large, bird-friendly glass windows allow for open-air access to the garden, two stone fireplaces bookend the space and a grand lobby area provides a seamless connection between the event space and access to the National Aviary’s immersive habitats. The Garden Room is anticipating LEED® Certification creating a welcoming, unique and sustainable event space.
The Industrialist Hotel, Pittsburgh, Autograph Collection
Now open in Downtown Pittsburgh is The Industrialist Hotel, home to 124 rooms in the iconic 18-story landmark Arrott building. Part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, the hotel features a vibrant lobby lounge and The Rebel Room, a stylish bar and dining room serving up unique dishes. The Industrialist is steps away from Market Square and Point Park University along with plenty of local shops, restaurants and the “T,” Pittsburgh’s subway system. With stylish guest rooms, historic architecture and flexible, high-tech meeting spaces, The Industrialist is a great addition to Downtown Pittsburgh.
Moonshot Museum
The countdown to liftoff has begun for the Moonshot Museum in Pittsburgh. Officially launching in the Summer of 2022 on Pittsburgh’s North Side, the Moonshot Museum is designed to provide visitors with an up-close look of real lunar landers and rovers being built and readied to fly to the Moon. The ultimate mission? To make space accessible to the public while inspiring space exploration and settlement. The Moonshot Museum, Pennsylvania’s first museum dedicated exclusively to space, is co-located at the headquarters of Pittsburgh-based space robotics company Astrobotic Technology, Inc.
MeetPITTSBURGH, and the entire community, is certainly excited about all of the upcoming additions to the city. To find out more about what’s happening in Pittsburgh, connect with our team today.
Published October 26, 2021