RIDC’s Lawrenceville Technology Center Selected as a Top 2017 Impact Project by NAIOP

Pittsburgh, PA February 28, 2017

The redevelopment of the former Heppenstall Steel Mill into Carnegie Robotics at RIDC’s Lawrenceville Technology Center has been selected as a top 2017 impact project by NAIOP, the premiere North American commercial real estate and development association. Only three projects from all of North America were selected by NAIOP. “We are honored by this recognition.  It is a testament to our team, but more importantly to the great partners and their catalytic projects that RIDC is uniquely able to help make happen.” Stated Donald Smith, President of RIDC.

Members of the leasing, design and finance team from RIDC, Desmone Architects and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development will be attending NAIOP’s 2017 I.Con Impact Projects March 8^th-9^th in Toronto, Canada to present the project.

Purchased by RIDC in 2002, the Heppenstall Building or “Blue Building” had been vacant for many years when the redevelopment process began.  RIDC partnered with Allegheny County and the Commonwealth of PA to remediate and prepare the site for future development.  Then Carnegie Robotics, formed out the of Carnegie Mellon’s National Robotics Engineering Consortium in Lawrenceville, triggered the building renovation. “The patient investment by the state to redevelop former industrial sites continues show dividends in the City of Pittsburgh”, stated Senator Wayne Fontana.

An early stage start-up locating in an old steel mill that required extensive renovation to become a world-class robotics facility challenged the design team and financing partners to make the project feasible.  “Implementing effective and creative approaches to drive the redevelopment of brownfields has been an area of significant focus for the Wolf Administration,” said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin. “We applaud RIDC’s efforts to bring this project to fruition and extend our sincere congratulations on its recognition one of NAIOP’s top 2017 impact projects.”

The renovated Blue Building has become a centerpiece for robotics growth seeing several automated vehicle companies sprout from the team assembled by Carnegie Robotics. “We’re thrilled to see the boom of the tech sector in our region, and the growth in jobs and development that it brings to our community,” said Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “We are delighted to support investments that result in continued progress in this sector of our economy.”

The focus on brownfield redevelopment for the burgeoning tech sector continues in Lawrenceville with the construction of the new $20 million Tech Forge Building.

Lawrenceville Video Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYJ7wwozcIM

About RIDC

The mission of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation of Southwestern Pennsylvania is to catalyze and support economic growth and high quality job creation through real estate development and finance of projects that advance the public interest. Through public, private and institutional partnerships, RIDC develops real estate to ensure the region can capture emerging and existing growth opportunities across diverse industry sectors.

RIDC has developed industrial and business parks on greenfield and brownfield sites and currently has 11 parks. Today, RIDC owns over 2,800 acres of land in various industrial parks and manages over 50 buildings. There are nearly 6,000 jobs in RIDC’s tenant facilities. RIDC is also the administrator of the Foreign-Trade Zone #33.