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Stephan Bontrager, Riverlife
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(e) stephan@riverlifepgh.org
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May 11, 2021
PITTSBURGH- After over 20 years of being a part of the downtown Golden Triangle business district, Riverlife has moved across the Allegheny River to new office headquarters at One North Shore Center on Pittsburgh’s North Shore next to the Roberto Clemente Bridge and PNC Park.
Riverlife has been a nonprofit leader in building a community vision plan for the redevelopment and activation of Pittsburgh’s downtown riverfronts since 1999, overseeing a $132 million investment in the city’s riverfronts that has catalyzed over $4.2 billion in adjacent development. The move to new office headquarters on the North Shore fulfills a long-term goal of the organization to establish a presence directly on the riverfront to better serve riverfront users.
“This is such an important moment for our City, and the time is right for Riverlife to be on the riverfront,” said Matthew Galluzzo, president and CEO. “While we have loved being part of building Downtown’s vibrancy over the past two decades, our new home base at One North Shore Center and Allegheny Landing opens up a new chapter for us. We’re now able, on a daily basis, to live and breathe the riverfront experience that so many Pittsburghers and our visitors enjoy, and be an on-the-ground presence in the creation, activation, and celebration of the city’s riverfronts.”
The new Riverlife offices sit directly adjacent to Allegheny Landing, one of the nation’s first outdoor waterfront sculpture parks and a priority restoration project identified in Riverlife’s Completing the Loop vision plan for Pittsburgh’s riverfronts. Originally opened to the public in 1984, the city park has been the focus of phased renovation efforts over the past decade as a partnership between Riverlife, the City of Pittsburgh, and Friends of Allegheny Landing. The on-site public art collection is owned by Carnegie Museum of Art, also a partner in past restoration efforts.
“Riverlife has been a valued partner of the City in connecting Pittsburghers to the riverfronts. I appreciate the lens of inclusivity and creativity they’re bringing to their new home at Allegheny Landing, and their planning for the park,” said Mayor William Peduto. “The North Shore is a signature experience for the people who live here and visit here. I applaud Riverlife’s ambitious thinking to make Allegheny Landing a thriving part of that experience.”
“Over 40,000 residents call the Northside home, and Allegheny Landing on the North Shore has untapped potential to add greatly to that neighborhood fabric,” said Diana Bucco, president of The Buhl Foundation and a partner in Riverlife’s public planning process for Allegheny Landing. “We’re excited to welcome Riverlife to the neighborhood and look forward to their work to connect the North Shore to the vibrancy of the adjacent Northside communities.”
Completing the Loop positions Allegheny Landing as a key destination in Riverlife’s plans to link and enhance Pittsburgh’s 15-mile, 1000-acre loop of riverfront open spaces between the West End, Hot Metal and 31st Street bridges. In that vision plan, the park is identified as an important node in a larger “river room” concept that aims to activate both sides of the Allegheny River and the Clemente Bridge. The “river room” concept aims to establish long-needed non-motorized access across the West End Bridge and into the West End, Manchester, and Chateau neighborhoods.
Riverlife will increase its presence at Allegheny Landing not only through major planned repair and restoration efforts for the park’s upper plaza, hillside, and boat dock, but also through pop-up activation, special events, and on-site amenities. “The creation of Allegheny Landing in the 1980s was a bold move that showed how the Downtown riverfront could be transformed through art and environment into a special gathering place for people,” said Mr. Galluzzo. “We’re excited to bring that magic back to Allegheny Landing, elevating it as a signature North Shore destination that is welcoming to everyone: a place where you can work outside, eat your lunch, launch a boat or hop on a bike, and experience compelling works of art with unparalleled views of the Downtown skyline.”
“The pandemic led to huge numbers of people using Pittsburgh’s riverfront parks and trails, illustrating that these are essential people-centric spaces that offer fresh air and elbow room,” said Kamal Nigam, chair of Riverlife’s board of directors. “We must show that these ‘loved-to-death’ spaces are cared for and programmed so they remain attractive destinations as more people return to Downtown. The Riverlife board brought on Matt Galluzzo as president in 2019 to make bold moves and lead the organization into its next chapter. Our new headquarters offer an exciting opportunity to live our organizational values right on the riverfront, and make Allegheny Landing come alive again as a signature city destination.”
About Riverlife
Since 1999, Riverlife has worked to create, activate, and celebrate Pittsburgh’s riverfronts, connecting people through exceptional places and experiences. Riverlife has been a leader in building a community vision for over 15 miles and 1000 acres of Downtown riverfront parks, trails, and public open space. For more information, visit riverlifepgh.org.
Photo by Sarah Collins / Rose Colored Creative
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