The Pittsburgh office of architecture and planning firm Perkins Eastman was recently awarded the 12-month visioning process for a 6.5-mile segment of the city’s riverfront that stretches from the convention center east to the Highland Park neighbourhood, including an under-developed section of the River’s northwest bank.

“The Allegheny’s edge can be a primary thread that connects Pittsburgh’s distinct riverfront neighborhoods and become an amenity in their future development,” Stephen Quick FAIA, a Principal at Perkins Eastman, said. “We are thrilled to be working on this vision plan that links the Allegheny to its neighborhoods and downtown—a precedent for other Pittsburgh riverfront neighborhoods.”

The project is a collaborative effort between the City of Pittsburgh Department of City Planning, Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, and Riverlife. The planning team led by Perkins Eastman also includes GSP Consulting, CH2M HILL, Viridian Landscape Studio, Continental Conservation, Trans Associates, and Clear View Strategies. The project will be incorporated into the City’s comprehensive riverfront master plan, slated for completion in 2010.

The project will create linkages between the River and its adjacent neighbourhoods, become a precedent for other riverfront communities, and serve as a key instigator and guide for future development. Through a highly participatory process, community members will participate in design discussions, public meetings, and neighbourhood-wide recreational opportunities.