Founded in 1758, Pittsburgh became the world’s largest steel producer in 1875 after Andrew Carnegie opened his eponymous Steel Company. This ensuing rapid growth funded expansion of Pittsburgh’s remarkable urban infrastructure while catalyzing the development of finance, manufacturing and other major industries.
Today, Pittsburgh is a major city composed of districts and neighborhoods that ride the rollercoaster of an ingenious system of roads and bridges and hold many discoveries within. New projects on the horizon continue to make the destination a welcoming and accessible win for groups.
New Projects in Pittsburgh
With PPG Place’s shimmering main tower crowning the skyline like a glass castle, a world-class cultural foundation laid down by Carnegie, Thomas Mellon, H.J. Heinz and other industrialists, mythic sports legacy and more, Pittsburgh looms large in the American story.
Yet, following mass departures in the post-steel era, the population today hovers around 303,000 people, making Pittsburgh the nation’s 68th-ranked city by size. With chefs, artists and other creatives having long transformed much of the vacant landscape into opportunity, Pittsburgh buzzes with hands-on innovation and energy.
VisitPITTSBURGH’s rebranded look, for example, was carefully designed to move beyond long-held Rust Belt associations and better represent all the city has to offer today. The hip, stylish campaign is introducing the city to a new wave of leisure travelers while increasing awareness and interest among meeting planners and event organizers who may not have previously considered Pittsburgh.
Emblematic new concepts for events or catering include Novo Asian Food Hall in the popular Strip District, featuring seven individual stalls from Pittsburgh restauranteurs in an open kitchen concept.
[Related: Inspiration Is Around Every Corner in Philadelphia and Valley Forge]
Space Bar offers a futuristic orbit of molecular mixology and all-vegetarian bites in a spaceship-themed lounge in Market Square. Journey to culinary Spain and South America at Barcelona Wine Bar, serving charcuterie, tapas and 400-plus wines by the glass or bottle. City Kitchen is a unique chef-driven concept encompassing an array of distinct restaurants and culinary experiences, with flexible space for offsite happy hours, casual events and 350-capacity buyouts.
Major moves include the ongoing expansion of The Andy Warhol Museum’s Pop District. The $60 million project will transform six blocks of the museum’s North Shore neighborhood into a vibrant cultural hub and tourism destination, large-scale event space included.
Connecting the North Shore and emerging Pop District with downtown’s Cultural District across the Allegheny River, the
Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol and Rachel Carson are the world’s only trio of identical bridges. These siblings are the centerpiece of the Sister Bridges Experience, a transformative project slated for 2025 that forms part of local organization Riverlife’s ongoing redevelopment of Pittsburgh’s 15-mile loop of riverfront parks, trails and public open spaces.
Next year also sees the anticipated unveiling of the $1.4 billion transformation of Pittsburgh International Airport.
