Green Wall and Greener Parking Lot
In 2012, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy installed the city’s first trellis-style green wall at 7th Street and Ft. Duquesne Boulevard. In the heart of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, this 40-foot by 54-foot permanent wall trellis was designed with native vines, including Dutchman’s pipe, American bittersweet, Virgin’s bower clematis and two types of native honeysuckle. WPC staff and Duquesne Light volunteers planted these vines at the bottom of the trellis with the expectation that they could reach a height of up to 50 feet. This new green wall was meant not only to enhance the urban landscape by providing long-lasting greenery and blooms, but also to save energy by protecting the building from wind and sun.
Following the success of the green wall, and in partnership with ALCO Parking, WPC added an abundance of greenery to the parking lot below the wall. Perennial garden beds and mature trees were added along the perimeter and center of the lot to add diverse vegetation and to create a greener and far more attractive parking site without removing any parking spots.
Katz Plaza and Theater Square
WPC partners with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust to maintain the natural elements of the Agnes R. Katz Plaza, a popular Downtown parklet at the corner of 7th Street and Penn Avenue as well as the adjacent Theater Square. Katz Plaza is well known for the 25-foot bronze fountain and public art installation created by sculptor Louise Bourgeois.
The Water Cube Parklet
The Mobile Parklet
In partnership with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, WPC helped to convert an ordinary roll-off dumpster into a mobile garden. The 21-foot-long dumpster became a city park bench enhanced with native perennials, grasses and trees offering fall, holiday and winter displays. It instantly became known as a unique downtown destination that receives a lot of attention by visitors.
Strawberry Way & Smithfield Street Bus Stop
Thanks to the foresight of Envision Downtown and a strong collaborative effort between the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Works, the Office of Public Art, PPG Paints, Colcom Foundation and WPC, Strawberry Way became a work of art. During the summer of 2016, a section of the Strawberry Way alley, stretching between Grant and Smithfield Streets, became a revitalized pedestrian path.
Market Square
In 2007, WPC partnered with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership to add green accents to Market Square. As part of its strategy to enliven downtown Pittsburgh and make Market Square a key to the revitalization of the Golden Triangle, the Partnership asked WPC to add flower planters and special spring and summer plantings in the Square. Along with hanging flower baskets, large planters were used to delineate experimental outdoor seating for the Square’s restaurants. The Partnership found that the greening of Market Square helped to increase the function of its outdoor space. Local businesses mentioned the planters and greenery when they thanked the Partnership for its efforts downtown. WPC continues to work with the Partnership to enhance Market Square with greening for all to enjoy.
Convention Center
With the announcement that Pittsburgh would be the site of the September 2009 G-20 Summit, the opportunity arose to improve the facade and landscape of Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center. During our Downtown Greening Survey conducted as part of the 2007 Downtown Greening Report, this site was identified as the most visited point in the Golden Triangle; the Convention center itself is one of the world’s largest green buildings—yet its handsome and efficient design lacked a complementary green landscape.
- shade
- air temperature reduction
- traffic noise reduction
- air quality improvement by intercepting dust, ash and exhaust
- prevention of approximately 7,400 gallons of water from entering the municipal water treatment system each year
- approximately 3,400 pounds of carbon offset annually
PARK(ing) Day
Each year WPC participates in PARK(ing) Day—an international event meant to re-envision public spaces for natural and pedestrian use in the urban environment. Since 2010, WPC has partnered with organizations such as the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, BikePittsburgh and others to transform asphalt into public spaces to be enjoyed by all. WPC believes that showcasing creative examples of different urban greening techniques can provide funders and practitioners the impetus to make densely built downtown landscapes more green and environmental.