At 1550 feet long and 90 feet wide, with views south to Downtown Pittsburgh and north to Saint Stanislaus Church, Smallman Street is a dramatic and exciting setting for new development. However, the street is not currently welcoming to pedestrians and cyclists and is dominated by vehicles, both moving and parked.

Working with the City of Pittsburgh and its development partners, Stoss was hired to create a vision and plan to retain vehicular access and parking while providing spaces where people can gather to enjoy spending time—creating a hybrid between a street and plaza.  

To make Smallman safer for pedestrians, crosswalks correspond with three passageways to be cut through the redeveloped produce terminal as connections to the Allegheny River beyond. Lighted crosswalks and overhead lighting illuminates the space in the evenings. Wide spaces open up shops to the street and provide an elevated pedestrian boulevard for shoppers and residents. The entire street could be closed for special events or festivals with a permanent plaza situated at the north end of the street for a vibrant communal atmosphere.

client

City of Pittsburgh

location

Pittsburgh, PA

TEAM

Stoss