A few colleagues of mine from Pittsburgh, partly inspired by
POST's All You Can Eat exhibition last fall, and in particular
an entry that probed a possible re-use (that wasn't even designed by an architect! )for Pittsburgh's soon to be torn down Civic Arena, along with present issues in Pittsburgh, have organized a nice looking competition around just that idea. How to re-use a now "obsolete" sports arena that is being replaced by a
shinier, 'greener', more expensive facility set to open next door, this fall.
Check out the press release from Preservation Pittsburgh:
PRESERVATION PITTSBURGH ANNOUNCES
DESIGN COMPETITION FOR CIVIC ARENA
for the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, PA.
In Fall 2010, the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins franchise will move to the newly constructed
Consol Energy Center, vacating the distinctive stainless steel dome of the Mellon Arena,
formerly named the Civic Arena. A growing number of concerned citizens and preservation
groups, including Preservation Pittsburgh, believe that demolition is not the answer, and
that the Civic Arena could be successfully repurposed.
“Through the power of imagination, we hope to engage the community and demonstrate to
the local and state political leadership that the Arena should remain,” said Preservation
Pittsburgh board member Peter Margittai. “This design competition will provide a forum
for those ideas and generate a dialogue about the adaptive reuse of the Civic Arena.”
Completed in 1961, the Civic Arena is sited on 28 acres of the Lower Hill District, a
neighborhood adjacent to Downtown Pittsburgh. Its retractable dome pushed the limits of
engineering and was originally built to house the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. It remains
unique in the world as a distinct Pittsburgh icon for its technical achievements and
innovation. It is also eligible to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. But
there is mixed public opinion about the history, significance, and symbolism of the Civic
Arena. The Arena was among the first projects to introduce the national planning approach
of Urban Renewal. Its development demolished the Lower Hill District, displaced 8,000
residents, separated the historic Hill community from Downtown, and contributed to the
economic collapse of the Hill District.
Three years ago, the Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA) announced its Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the Pittsburgh Penguins regarding the construction of a new
arena. Among other things, one of the terms listed in the MOU states, “Upon the opening of
the new arena, the SEA, at its expense, shall promptly demolish Mellon Arena and pave,
stripe and in all respects prepare the land under Mellon Arena for use as a parking lot. This
use shall continue until the land under the Mellon Arena is developed. Upon completion of
this work, the Penguins shall pay an additional $200,000/year over the life of the lease.”
The SEA made its agreement to demolish the Civic Arena without any public input.
Scott Leib, President of Preservation Pittsburgh states, “We are doing what the SEA should
have done years ago. We are hosting a design competition as a way to generate fresh ideas
for how the Civic Arena can be reused.” Leib continues, “Preservation is a resource, not a
roadblock, for great economic development. With necessary input from diverse
communities, we believe a unique, stunning, economically viable destination can be created
that will serve our region well into the future.”
Preservation Pittsburgh is seeking creative ideas for an adaptive reuse of the Civic Arena – a
structure with conflicting legacies as both a monument to Pittsburgh’s engineering prowess
and a symbol of past human injustices. Complete registration information and submission
Preservation Pittsburgh is a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to preserving our region's
historic, architectural, cultural, and environmental heritage. Its purpose is to assist
individuals and organizations in preserving the integrity of the architecture and physical
surroundings they value.
