Pens' arena designers focus on rivers rather than steel heritage

This sketch shows the Centre Uphill view of the proposed Uptown arena. The Penguins unveiled the team's plans for the new arena on Tuesday.

By Andrew Conte
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, August 29, 2007


Designs for the new Uptown arena will evoke a feeling of the city's three rivers and the confluence at the Point -- not of Pittsburgh's steel history -- architects said Tuesday evening.

"It's not the image of the city anymore," said Wayne London, project manager for HOK Sport, the Kansas City firm hired to design the arena.

The Penguins released updated drawings of the building during the final session in a series of public hearings with residents, business leaders and other interested groups. About 260 people attended the meetings.



This sketch shows an interior view of the proposed Uptown arena.

Betty Penny, 66, who has lived in the Hill District for 43 years, went to all nine public meetings and a walking tour of the site. She said the hockey team and public officials seem sincere in wanting to work with residents.

"I'm hoping they really mean it," she said.
With the public sessions complete, the Penguins plan to submit their designs to the city Planning Commission for approval. Team President David Morehouse said officials will keep their ears open.

"As we move forward in this process, we will have an open process with community input," he told yesterday's audience.

Based on comments from the public sessions, architects proposed a grove of trees between the arena and Epiphany Church, extended landscaping across Centre Avenue and expanded a traffic study to route tractor-trailers away from residential areas, London said.



This sketch shows the Fifth Ave. view of the proposed Uptown arena.

Architects said they want to play off the city's unique geography and studied maps dating to 1785. With three entrances, the arena will evoke the "notion of water and flow," said HOK Sport's lead designer, Patrick Lempka.

Drawings show a corridor of glass on the arena's western side, overlooking Downtown and covering a 50-foot change in elevation between Fifth and Centre avenues. On the lower side, terraces will overlook Fifth Avenue at the height of existing buildings.

The arena would be constructed of glass, masonry, brick and cast stone. The $290 million building is scheduled to open for the 2010-11 hockey season.



This sketch shows the Plaza Entry view of the proposed Uptown arena.

Separately, One Hill Coalition, a community group, met with the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority and local political leaders yesterday morning.

People on both sides of the talks called the meeting positive, and public officials said they would seek consensus on a community benefits agreement for jobs and redevelopment money.


Andrew Conte can be reached at aconte@tribweb.com or (412) 320-7835.