Wilmington-based Buccini/Pollin Group is working with an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team in redeveloping the site of their former arena.
Buccini/Pollin Group will serve as lead commercial developer for a 28-acre, mixed-use development in downtown Pittsburgh.
Buccini/Pollin was selected to create and implement a master plan for the surface parking lots across Centre Avenue from PPG Paints Arena, home to the Penguins and host to 160 entertainment events annually, a release stated.
BPG is working closely with several redevelopment partners on the site of the old Civic Arena including design firm Gensler and lead residential developer Intergen, a Pittsburgh-based, minority-owned housing developer.
“We are delighted by the opportunity to team with the Penguins and with Intergen on one of the greatest sports and entertainment-anchored, mixed-use projects in America,” says Chris Buccini, co-president of The Buccini/Pollin Group. “This prominent site – with its scale, central location and incredible access – stands out as one of the premier infill development districts in the country.”
According to a release, the successful hockey franchise selected BPG to develop the overall master plan and to accelerate commercial development for a project that will attract over $500 million in overall investment.
The 28-acre site will feature a mix of residential, commercial/office, retail/entertainment and food venues. The new master plan calls for over 800,000 square feet of office, 200,000 square feet of retail, 50,000 square feet of entertainment space; a 220-guestroom hotel; and 1,000 new residential units.
“We have extended our very successful development, construction management and operations platforms into markets like Nashville, New York and Philadelphia,” said Wesley Schwandt, president of BPGS Construction. “There is such a great fit between this development opportunity in Pittsburgh and BPG’s capabilities and prior project experiences.”
BPG’s Vice President of Development Boris Kaplan said “BPG is working with our local partners and civic leaders to create a transformational mixed-use project on a site with a long tradition for winning championships. Pittsburgh is already recognized as a leading technology hub and a magnet for a booming millennial population.”
A key feature of the development is an eight-acre greenway along Wylie Avenue that extends the highway cap and parkland above I-579 into and through the new district.
Each of the development blocks in the Gensler design will feature new buildings with ground floor retail/commercial suites and access to dynamic outdoor areas. The site is served by public transit and major traffic arteries and boasts views of the downtown, North Shore and Mount Washington.
Buccini/Pollin is no stranger to Pittsburgh. The company acquired the former Del Monte Foods office building in the city in 2017.
Buccini/Polllin is redeveloping a large portion of downtown Wilmington, including the DuPont Building, which includes the headquarters for Chemours Co., the iconic hotel and a soon-to-open food hall.
The company is a major player in the development of Wilmington’s Riverfront and is currently adding hotels in the area and recently opened the 76ers Fieldhouse.
Buccini/Pollin also has suburban office holdings and hotel affiliates in northern New Castle County.
