A Downtown developer is prepared to move forward with a $47.5 million project to bring more tech-flex space to the Pittsburgh Technology Center in South Oakland.
The Elmhurst Group will brief the city Planning Commission Tuesday on the proposed Elmhurst Innovation Center — a 156,000-square-foot campus that consists of two 78,000-square-foot buildings.
William E. Hunt, Elmhurst president and CEO, said he hopes to get started on the project’s 78,000-square-foot first phase in the fall, with completion slated in about 18 months.
The Elmhurst Innovation Center will feature a high-bay shop and research and development space with drive-in access, flexible space with open views to the floor below, and office space.
It is being built on a four-acre parcel bordered by Technology Drive and Second Avenue that Elmhurst purchased from the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority for $1 million last year.
Elmhurst will start construction of the first phase on spec, or without a signed tenant, but Mr. Hunt is confident that the space will fill. Elmhurst is looking more for engineering firms that have a need for high-bay space as well as offices.
“We studied the market thoroughly and we feel there is a definite need for high-bay space,” he said.
The innovation center, Mr. Hunt noted, will be similar to the Regional Industrial Development Corporation’s Tech Forge building in Lawrenceville, which houses a mix of office and high-bay space. It is home to Aurora Innovation and Caterpillar’s Pittsburgh Automation Center.
“That’s been very successful so we want to continue with that trend,” he said.
The innovation center marks Elmhurst’s latest endeavor in Oakland.
It also is teaming with Carlow University to build a 225,000-square-foot building at Fifth and Craft avenues on property that now includes a surface parking lot and former rectory.
That project will feature about 100,000 square feet for Carlow’s health science facilities, including lab space, and a student dining hall; about 100,000 square feet for private interests; and potential retail space on Fifth.
Construction probably won’t begin for two years, although the timetable could be accelerated.
Elmhurst also is the developer behind Schenley Place, a six-story, 100,000-square-foot building on Bigelow Boulevard near the Cathedral of Learning that is home to Facebook’s Oculus division.
In addition, it developed a six-story, 100,000-square-foot building at Fifth and Craig Street that is anchored by the Rand Corp.
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published: April 22, 2019, 11:45 a.m.