The most notable is the $331-million David L. Lawrence Convention Center, designed by New York-based Rafael Vinoly architects. A portion of the center opened this year. On completion, it will have 330,000 sf of exhibit space, a 34,000-sf ballroom, 53 meeting rooms of varying size and two 175-seat auditoriums.

The equally acclaimed, $108-million, 647,000-sf PNC Firstside Center is on a brownfield site, the former Baltimore & Ohio railway terminal. The financial service center of Pittsburgh's PNC Bank, it was designed by L.D. Astorino Companies and developed by PNC Realty Services, both of Pittsburgh.

"Green building is an essential component of Pittsburgh's newest renaissance and a source of incredible competitive advantage to our region," says Mayor Tom Murphy following the opening of Shades of Green.

Among Pittsburgh's other notable existing green buildings are McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh Glass Center and Siemens Westinghouse Fuel Cell Plant.

New green buildings set to open in 2003, in addition to the convention center and PNC Firstside, are Henderson Hall on the campus of Carnegie Mellon, Carnegie Libraries and an office building designed as the corporate headquarters of locally based Dick Corp., which is being offered for sale or lease.

Dick Corp. also is the contractor for both the convention center and PNC Firstside.

Instant Insights /

Pittsburgh Claims World's Largest 'Green' Buildings

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