Final beam secured in redeveloped Ford assembly plant building in Pittsburgh
The final piece is secure.
On Tuesday, a steel beam was raised to the top of The Assembly, a structure located at Morewood and Centre avenues on the Bloomfield/Shadyside border at the former site of the Ford Motor Co. assembly plant.
The original 250,000 square-foot building and the four-story addition will house University of Pittsburgh laboratories and offices, an event space, conference rooms, a 250-seat auditorium, and a restaurant and cafe with parking below.
There will be 108,000 square feet available for lease. Construction is expected to be completed by January .
A group of 305 construction workers applauded as they watched the beam being raised toward the sky in what’s called “topping out,” a ceremony that signals the uppermost steel member is going into place and that the structure has reached its height, according to the American Institute of Steel Construction.
“Placing this last beam is exciting,” said Mike Dembert, development director for Wexford Science & Technology, the Maryland-based development company known for collaborating with universities and medical centers on projects such as this one. “This is a moment we all have been waiting for.”
Ground was broken for The Assembly in summer 2019. Work was stalled for a month during the pandemic. The construction team worked to preserve some history of the building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. Some of the concrete and steel columns remain and the windows have been restored.
Built in 1915, the site was used by the car manufacturer for more than 30 years. Automobile parts arrived via train and were lifted to the top floor. The vertical assembly line involved the cars – including the iconic Model T — being built above and sent to the showroom on a freight elevator.
“They called this area of town ‘automobile row,’ ” said Dembert. “This is really an historic building.”
Before the beam was hoisted, construction workers autographed the steel. An American flag and an evergreen tree were attached.
The American Institute of Steel Construction said that to some, the flag signals a structure built with federal funds, but for others it suggests basic patriotism. The evergreen tree symbolizes that the job went up without a loss of life, while for others it’s a good luck charm for the future occupants.
Wexford partnered with Ventas, Bank of America, ZGF Architects and Turner Construction on the project.
“These state-of-the-art labs, dramatic convening spaces, and top-tier researchers will attract the talent, ideas, and companies that will continue to propel life science innovation in Pittsburgh,” said John Grady, Wexford’s northeast region executive and senior vice president of development.
The Assembly represents the vision and potential of the Pittsburgh Innovation District to translate academic research into economic development that benefits all of Western Pennsylvania, said Sean Luther, executive director of InnovatePGH.
“Once complete, this space will advance the University of Pittsburgh’s mission by fueling biomedical collaboration and innovation for society’s gain — and with lifesaving benefits,” said Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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