Upscale Hotel Project to Support Pittsburgh Athletic Association

By Adriana Pop, Associate Editor

A new Hyatt Centric luxury hotel slated to rise in the heart of the city’s Oakland neighborhood could guarantee the survival of the iconic Pittsburgh Athletic Association, which dates back to 1908.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, North Carolina-based Concord Hospitality is planning the construction of a $30 million development on a 28,000-square-foot parking lot behind the Fifth Avenue club, across Bigelow Boulevard from the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum.

Concord Hospitality intends to lease the land from the Pittsburgh Athletic Association for 99 years. The agreement would bring a much-needed financial support to the organization, ensuring its long-term operation.

The 10-story, 168-key project is in fact the scaled-back version of Concord’s initial proposal, which called for the construction of an 11-story hotel with 190 rooms and an investment of $45 million. This plan was eventually redesigned in response to the community’s demands.

Meanwhile, the structure’s overall square footage has been reduced from 191,000 square feet to 173,000 square feet. PFVS Architecture of Atlanta is the project’s designer.

Pending further approvals, construction on Concord’s new hotel could begin next spring and wrap up in 18 to 20 months. Upon completion, the property will operate under the luxurious Hyatt Centric flag. Amenities will include a top-floor lobby and terrace with views of Oakland as well as restaurants, space for a coffee shop and meeting rooms.

Photo credits: PFVS Architecture