Global entrepreneurship platform OneValley has opened its doors in Hazelwood as the newest space for startups and entrepreneurs.
The San Mateo, Calif.-based group showcased its services Wednesday as part of the $13.7 million renovation of the Roundhouse at Hazelwood Green. The roundhouse, built 133 years ago to service train engines at the former LTV Coke Works site, is part of the sprawling 178-acre project now known as Hazelwood Green. The site is being transformed from a brownfield into a hub for startups, companies and the community.
The roundhouse renovation was supported through funding by the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Heinz Endowments.
“In the 19th century, the roundhouse serviced the locomotives that powered the innovation economy of that era. Now, the roundhouse will be an engine once again, for a new economy, and a new generation of Pittsburgh innovators and entrepreneurs,” Sam Reiman, director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation, said in a statement.
“OneValley could have gone anywhere in the world to open their next global office,” he added. “It is a statement about Pittsburgh, and a validation of our vision for the roundhouse, that they chose to come here.”
OneValley will operate on a membership basis. Members will receive access to turnkey office and coworking spaces, as well as a network of investors, peers and mentors.
“I have been a Pittsburgh resident for 20 years now, and all of my time here has been spent investing in and growing the regional innovation ecosystem,” said Nehal Bhojak, general manager of OneValley at the Roundhouse. “I am extremely proud that a global company like OneValley chose Pittsburgh as its next innovation center because it speaks to our transformation from an industrial economy to an innovation-centric economy.”
The roundhouse is 26,000 gross square feet and incorporates original elements, such as the turntable and operator cab, bridge crane, fume hood room, and track rails. Open exterior space for community use is meant to accommodate programs and events.
First Published: September 23, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Updated: September 23, 2021, 10:22 a.m.
