New RIDC Building Highlights Robotics Demand
Pittsburgh, PA July 19, 2016
After more than a decade of investment to foster a robotics cluster in Lawrenceville, RIDC has broken ground on another facility designed to accommodate robotics companies, The Tech Forge.
“I’d like to thank RIDC for their commitment to Pittsburgh’s 21st Century economy and 
efforts to continue making this region a worldwide leader in robotics technology and development.” – Mayor William Peduto
RIDC has been creating flexible space for growing companies who want to be in a central location and in close proximity to Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC). At least 14 robotics companies are located within a mile radius of NREC.
“RIDC’s ongoing investments have set the stage for continued job growth and private investment in Pittsburgh-based Robotics firms” stated Don Smith, President, RIDC.
The building is the latest in a series of investments RIDC has undertaken to spur the robotics and high-tech cluster in the neighborhood. RIDC renovated the Geoffrey Boehm Chocolate Factory on 43rd Street in 2004 into a multi-occupancy high-tech office and 
manufacturing facility. In 2007, RIDC demolished the dilapidated industrial structures on the former Heppenstall Steel site along Hatfield Street then worked to remediate the brownfield for reuse and new investment.
In 2013, RIDC renovated former Heppenstall Blue Building transforming it into a modern high tech R&D space for Carnegie Robotics, a fast growing spin-out of NREC.
RIDC robotics tenants past and present in the neighborhood include Seegrid, RedZone Robotics, Carnegie Robotics, Caterpillar, and Uber.
“RIDC takes creative approaches to help support university related tech companies grow in the region” said Tim White, SVP Development, RIDC.
The new 64,500 square foot Tech Forge on 47th Street and Plum Way in Lawrenceville will feature a flexible mix of office and high-bay space; high-quality design that is LEED Platinum equivalent; and tenant amenities such as bike and car parking and a roof-top deck. Desmone Architects in Lawrenceville served as the architect and Franjo Construction from Homestead is the general contractor.
RIDC has also leveraged its projects to increase young students interest in robotics careers by partnering with STEM programs at local schools in Lawrenceville. The Tech Forge project is projecting the creation of over 130 permanent and 60 construction jobs in Lawrenceville.
“This project will be an economic driver for the Lawrenceville neighborhood and beyond. 
The jobs and vitality it will bring are important for the revitalization of this area of Pittsburgh and U.S. Bank is proud to be a part of the funding to make it happen,” said Jennifer Westerbeck, vice president of U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation, the division of U.S. Bank that provided the tax credit equity for the project.
RIDC’s Lawrenceville projects have been supported by a variety of financing partners including the PA Department of Community and Economic Development, the Commonwealth Financing Authority, Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority, the Strategic Investment Fund, the Richard King Mellon Foundation, Huntington National Bank, Mid-City Community CDE (“Mid-City”), Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives (“PUI”) and U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation (“US Bank”). Mid-City, PUI and US Bank provided $13 million of New Markets Tax Credit allocation to finance the project. Rise Community Capital acted as financial advisor for The Tech Forge project.
Check the articles below for additional information from other media outlets!
https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/pittsburgh-industrial-project-eyes-robotics-market/
