May Sterns Development

East Liberty, Pittsburgh, PA

Status: Un-Built

Building Type: Apartments / Mixed-Use

 

Area: 50,000 SF

Located at the heart of the East Liberty business district, at the confluence of Highland and Penn Avenues, the project occupies a unique parcel with four existing structures: a four-story historic office building, a single-story theater lobby, the main black box theater volume, and a single-story retail structure. The development will replace the remaining low-density structure with a new six-story multi-family residential building featuring ground-level retail.

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To maximize functional space and achieve a cohesive architectural design along Penn Avenue, the building utilizes a cantilevered steel frame extending over the single-story theater lobby, allowing the historic theater to remain unchanged.

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At ground level, the new structure aligns with the adjacent lobby and retail spaces, creating a seamless experience for the public. Above the lobby, the building mass is set back slightly, highlighting the decorative façade of the lobby.

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The building will be clad in decorative masonry veneer, matching the color palette of nearby buildings. The façade features three-dimensional brickwork and large window openings with contrasting colors, accentuated by stacked masonry veneer around the windows. This design is consistent on all exposed sides of the building.