Media Contact
Derek Scalzott, Senior Director of Communications, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust | scalzott@trustarts.org | 412-471-8715

 

Downtown Revitalization Update:
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Shares New Name
and Renderings for the 8th Street Block Civic Space

“ARTS LANDING”

Envisioned and operated by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 
the creatively designed and community-focused four-acre destination in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District opens in 2026
 

PITTSBURGH, PA, (February 6, 2025)- Arts Landing, a new outdoor civic space envisioned by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and designed by renowned landscape architecture firm Field Operations, promises to be one of the most transformative projects in the Cultural District in 25 years.

The new community asset will be constructed on the Cultural Trust’s property, designed for public use and enjoyment, in line with the Trust’s mission to serve the community. Construction will begin in April 2025 on the vacant surface lots of the 8th Street Block located between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard in the Cultural District. A soft opening is expected in April 2026, when the NFL Draft is hosted in Pittsburgh, with a grand opening slated for June 2026.

“Arts Landing will welcome residents and visitors, host festivals and performances, exhibit public art, and provide opportunities for everyday recreation and relaxation,” said Kendra Whitlock Ingram, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. “We are grateful to our civic leaders and project partners whose generosity and collaborative spirit continue to push the downtown revitalization vision forward.”

The $31M civic space is a key part of the Downtown Revitalization Vision announced in 2024 by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh, and Urban Redevelopment Authority and Governor Shapiro’s 10-year $600-million-dollar plan to rejuvenate Downtown Pittsburgh, which he announced from the future site of Arts Landing last October.

“The 8th Street Block Civic Space in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District is a cornerstone of the Downtown Revitalization plan,” said David Holmberg, Chair of the Cultural Trust’s Board of Trustees, Chair of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development’s Board of Directors, and President and CEO of Highmark Health.  “Envisioned and developed by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Arts Landing is truly transformative. It is not a short-term fix or incremental improvement to an existing space. This is reimagining and building an entirely new destination that will delight and benefit our community.”

Funding for the construction of Arts Landing is generously provided by the Allegheny Regional Asset District, BNY, Buhl Foundation, Burke Family Foundation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Colcom Foundation, Dollar Bank, Eden Hall Foundation, Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Henry L. Hillman Foundation. Additional funders are expected to join in support of the project in the coming months.

Essential support was provided by Governor Shapiro and his team at the Department of Community & Economic Development led by Secretary Rick Siger, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, and City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.

OVERVIEW & KEY LOCATIONS

“Since the earliest days of this project, we recognized the potential to design something truly extraordinary here,” said Lisa Switkin, Partner at Field Operations. “The drama of the site – suspended above the Allegheny River and framed by Pittsburgh’s iconic bridges – presents a unique opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the river and the city. Our vision is to harness this spectacular setting while delivering amenities that will energize and serve an evolving downtown,” she added.

Names of the following key locations may be updated in the future, including through sponsorships that support the non-profit Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s ongoing operation of Arts Landing:

Great Lawn & Bandshell | The heart of Arts Landing is a one-acre great lawn. The gorgeous green space centers the Allegheny River and two of the Three Sisters Bridges, welcoming pedestrians from multiple entrances.

Subtly graded topography will optimize the viewing experience for crowds gathered at the bandshell, located in the northwest corner near Fort Duquesne Boulevard and 7th Street. Its canopy design will provide protection from the elements for performers, while preserving a view of the surroundings for guests. When not in use, the bandshell will feel like an extension of other furnishings found throughout Arts Landing.

The northeast corner of the Lawn, near Fort Duquesne Boulevard and 9th Street, will be an installation site for future public art commissioned by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Installations are expected to be temporary during the first few years.

Garden Walk | Current-day 8th Street, between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Boulevard, will transform into a pedestrian-friendly Garden Walk—a verdant escape in the center of the city. No longer accessible to vehicular traffic, the Garden Walk will accommodate Cultural Trust operations and emergency vehicles as needed.

Thoughtful plantings and gentle topography will partially insulate the Garden Walk and Culture Commons – visually and acoustically – from nearby residents and businesses bordering today’s Eighth Street.

Play Room | Visitors will not find typical swing sets and see-saws in Arts Landing’s family-friendly play area. Instead, the play equipment will have artful expressions, made with natural materials well-suited to the Cultural District. Designed for a wide range of ages, these locations will encourage play and nature-based curiosity.

Visitor Center | Conveniently located next to the family-friendly play room is a new Visitor Center serving Arts Landing. The Visitor Center will be located in the renovated ground floors of historic Cultural Trust-owned buildings at 819 and 821 Penn Avenue near the intersection at 9th Street. The space will include public restrooms.

Backyard | The relaxing, fun atmosphere nurtured in recent years at the temporary “Backyard” activations on the 8th Street Block site will live on in a new, inviting area just south of the Play Room. The Backyard will invite passersby along Penn Avenue with a variety of seating options, picnic tables, games, planters, and overhead lighting. The adaptable space can be used for food truck roundups, pop-up markets, and other event-specific purposes.

Flex Zone | On the opposite side of Arts Landing from the Backyard, near the intersection of Fort Duquesne Boulevard and 7th Street, the Flex Zone will provide a second, inviting hardscaped area. When Arts Landing opens, the Flex Zone will open with three Pickleball courts and a small running track, providing nearly 30,000 square feet of flexible recreation area.

The Backyard and Flex Zone will serve as entrances and exits from Arts Landing. Both are designed intentionally as areas that meet today’s needs but remain adaptable – without permanent structures or plantings – ready to evolve in the years ahead with alternative programming.


SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental and social sustainability are intrinsic to the design and operation of Arts Landing.

The transformation from a vacant asphalt lot into a natural ecosystem underscores the civic space’s significant and positive environmental impact. Arts Landing will be home to various plant species, including nearly 100 trees and a wide variety of native grasses, shrubs, and plants. This native plant life will help to combat urban heat island effect, offer shade for visitors, and provide a habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and more. Establishing areas rich in habitat and resources for pollinators supports a healthy ecosystem.

Field Operations’ design also provides innovative solutions for storm water management, including underground water tanks and surface gardens. In addition to adding character and visual interest, this system may even provide educational opportunities for students and the public. The design will help ensure that Arts Landing does not contribute to stormwater overflow issues.

Field Operations, the Cultural Trust, and project partners are committed to constructing Arts Landing using local manufacturers and fabricators as much as possible, seeking out products made from recyclable content, to reduce our environmental footprint. Approximately 75% of waste from construction and demolition will be diverted from the landfill including through processes like grinding cinder blocks recovered from building demolition for future reuse.

Lighting is another essential part of Arts Landing’s sustainable design. Fixtures will be thoughtfully installed at ground level, on poles, and in catenary arrangements overhead. The entire lighting system will be dark-sky compliant.

Once Arts Landing opens, the Cultural Trust will remain committed to sustainable practices in its day-to-day maintenance. For example, forward-thinking choices of fertilizers will avoid “forever chemicals” and plastics in landscape maintenance. Similar best practices will be used in snow removal in the winter season, avoiding potential harm of plants and harmful chemicals that could reach the water system.

Beyond the natural environment, the design of Arts Landing considers elements of social equity and economic sustainability. Though located on the Cultural Trust’s private property, the civic space is designed for public use—with open access, free programming, and a goal of broad community participation. This vision enhances social sustainability and a sense of belonging for residents, visitors, workers, students, families, and artists.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s project management partners include Field Operations, VVA Project & Cost Managers, U3 Advisors, GBBN Architects, JLL, Mascaro Construction, Larson Design Group, Tillotson Design Associates, Jeffrey Bruce and Company and others.

For more information and to sign up for email updates about Arts Landing, visit TrustArts.org/ArtsLanding.

 

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The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is one of the nation’s premier arts presenters and a major catalytic influence in Pittsburgh, having overseen one of the city’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts-lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Cultural Trust presents an array of quality performing and visual arts, provides comprehensive educational experiences, and stewards Pittsburgh’s Cultural District as a national model of economic revitalization through the arts. Lauded as “the single greatest creative force in Pittsburgh,” the Cultural Trust has worked to make Pittsburgh a place where the arts can flourish. The 14-block Cultural District, a project of the Cultural Trust, has become a vibrant center for culture, art, food, and community in downtown Pittsburgh, providing a home for a broad range of performance groups and resident companies. Approximately two million people visit the Cultural District each year, generating more than $300M in economic impact for the region.

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