A major renovation project is underway at Downtown Pittsburgh’s landmark Union Trust building located at 501 Grant St.
Interior work has started on four floors that will be occupied by anchor tenant Siemens by the end of 2008. The firm signed a 10-year lease for 185,000 square feet, where it will consolidate its Environmental Engineering Operations and house 1,000 employees within an open office format.
Burt Hill is designing renovations of the 594,984-square-foot building, which was purchased by Los Angeles-based Mika Realty for $25 million. The building’s grand 9,000-square-foot auditorium will be integrated within a renovated conference center located on the 10th and 11th floors.
Renderings have been completed for the renovated lobby as well as for new storefronts that will be a part of the building's 40,000 square feet of retail space which will wrap around the entire building. The project also calls for new restrooms, a lower level parking facility and exterior lighting. Bill Dignon with CBRE, says that the project will apply for existing building LEED-Silver certification. Dignon expects Mika to invest $10 million in the
renovations.
A 20-foot
NatureMaker Steel Art Tree
has been commissioned as a centerpiece for the building's renovated
lobby. “The lobby sculpture symbolizes the rebirth of the building and
the LEED rating,” says Jeremy Kronman, with CBRE, which is managing the
project.
On Aug. 23, the opulent office tower was transformed into a venue for
The Sprout Fund’s annual HOTHOUSE benefit, which drew 2,400 party-goers, artists and patrons to the Downtown landmark.
Kronman also expects announcements to be made soon regarding new retail tenants for the building.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Jeremy Kronman and Bill Dignon, CB Richard Ellis
Image Courtesy CB Richard Ellis and Burt Hill