Located in the heart of the city’s popular Strip District neighbourhood, the Pittsburgh Produce Terminal sat vacant and ignored for decades. But today, the historic five-block structure—now rehabilitated with Acuity™ low-iron glass and Solarban® 70 glass with an Acuity™ glass interior lite—is a beacon of creativity and innovation in the Steel City.
Manufactured by Pittsburgh-based Vitro Architectural Glass, Solarban® 70 and Acuity™ glasses combine to offer an exceptional mix of transparency, colour-neutrality, solar control and visible light transmittance (VLT) that made it ideal for the revamped terminal’s needs.
“Playing a key role in the revitalization of the Pittsburgh Produce Terminal was a tremendous honour,” said Julia Giba, manager at Vitro Concierge Program™, who worked with United Plate Glass (UPG), a glass fabricator in nearby Butler, Pennsylvania, to supply the project. “We were able to work as a team to reserve and deliver the raw glass as it needed to be coated, ensuring a smooth, successful collaboration.” The glazing contractor was Specified Systems in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
Chicago-based McCaffery Interests began renovations to the building in June 2019. Dan McCaffery, chief executive officer, McCaffery Interests, said the goal was to transform the terminal into a central hub again for the citizens of Pittsburgh. “We crafted a mixed-use vision for the historic building that will restore its energy and vitality to once again make it a commercial, people-centric destination,” he said.
Due to its clarity, consistency and solar control performance, Solarban® 70 glass has become the most specified triple-silver-coated glass in the industry, with more than 300 million square-feet shipped in the past 10 years. When coupled with Acuity™ low-iron glass in a one-inch insulating glass unit (IGU), Solarban® 70 glass offers VLT of 67 percent and a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.28.
Specially engineered for vision glazings, Acuity™ glass can function as a substrate for Solarban® low-e coatings or as a highly clear glass lite in insulating or laminated glass units.
In addition to office buildings, institutions, hotels and schools, Acuity™ glass can be specified for exterior applications from luxury condominiums and mixed-use buildings to entrances and store-fronts. It also is ideal for distinctive exterior applications such as atriums, skylights and spandrel glass.
The Pittsburgh Produce Terminal offers a mix of retail, dining and office space, with an emphasis on local and contemporary art. Tenants include Fine Wine & Good Spirits, District Brew Yard, City Grows and OnPar Now. The 163,500-square-foot space includes pedestrian passageways that connect to a riverfront trail.