Shaping Through Deflection

River District Masterplan

Context

Located in Pittsburgh

North Shore Neighborhood

Between the Allegheny River and Troy Hill

The site is defined by the industrial boom. The site is home to the Heinz Factory, now apartment dwellings. The building features two iconic smokestacks. The site is also home to the recognizable 16th Street Bridge.

The site is part of a larger plan to connect and enhance the riverside communities through Pittsburgh. The section the site sits on was rated low quality.

Analysis

The site inventory and context revealed 4 interventions:

Create a connection between Troy Hill and the site
Widen the river's floodplain
Re-route traffic from along the river to the spine of the site
Develop part of the site creating a mixed-use district

Concept

Through a series of horizontal and vertical deflections, the space is redefined to accommodate different uses.

Masterplan

The site centers around a central axis that provides access to the surrounding neighborhood as well as connects the neighborhoods to the river. The corridor begins in troy hill and extends over the highway and through the site culminating in a river overlook. The road that follows the river was relocated away from the river to increase the river’s riparian area as well as strengthen pedestrian access to the river. Perpendicular to the central axis is a secondary pedestrian corridor that provides access throughout the site.