Construction continues at future retail space, condominiums and engineering HQ in Sewickley

Construction continues at the future Orbital Engineering headquarters in Sewickley.

Crews have been working for months to create a multi-use facility at the former R.D. Cole Funeral Home on Beaver Street.

The funeral home was demolished earlier this year. It had ceased services in September and reopened late that month under the same name on Fourth Avenue in Coraopolis.

Bob Lewis, founder of Orbital Engineering, plans to move the firm’s main operations from Pittsburgh to the borough.

Other uses for the property include a first-floor retail area and third-floor condominiums.

Council unanimously voted to approve the developer’s agreement on April 8.

L&L Builders and its co-founder Mike Lewandowski are managing the estimated $15 million project.

Other development team members include Desmone senior architect Stuart Coppedge and Red Swing Group project manager/civil engineer Phil Karanovich.

Project costs include $2.5 million for land acquisition and funeral home demolition. Building construction is estimated to be about $9.5 million and interior furnishings and design are about $3 million.

Construction is expected to take about 18 months, with the goal of having a December 2026 opening.

“Right now we’re on track, we’re on schedule, and we’re on budget,” Lewandowski said June 24. “Everything’s great.”

The property is about 25,000 square feet. It includes 3,000 square feet for two retail spots on the first floor and three 2,500-square-foot condos with balconies on the third floor.

There are three garages, one for each residential unit with room for two cars each. Plans also show 18 parking spaces total for the office and retail spaces.

The retail tenants have not yet been formally announced.

A portion of the Beaver Street sidewalk has been fenced off with some safety barriers posted a few feet away.

Council unanimously voted to approve a deal with Lewis, who is also a borough resident, and his development team on April 8.

Mayor George Shannon lives in the apartment building next to the construction site.

He said residents have been able to travel in and out of the area with no problem, and there have been no complaints about the construction from any of the 21 units.

“They’re very respectful of their environment and the people around them,” Shannon said. “It’s quiet. It’s just going fine.”

Lewandowski said he was pleased to hear there were no issues with the neighbors.

“We’re absolutely loving working there,” he said about the borough.

Part of Duquesne Way will be closed at some point to install stormwater management measures. It’s unclear when that might occur. A development team site visit is planned for July 7.

Orbital has completed more than 25,000 projects in its 50-year history. Its involvement has been in the energy, heavy manufacturing and infrastructure markets.

The company has offices in Houston, Detroit, St., Louis, Hackensack, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Baton Rouge, Hammond and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Messages left for Lewis via Orbital’s Pittsburgh office were not returned as of press time on June 26.