Carnegie Robotics Named Top Industrial Renovation

By Keith Loria, Contributing Editor

Carnegie Robotic

Pittsburgh—NAIOP has named the redevelopment of the former Heppenstall Steel Mill into Carnegie Robotics at RIDC’s Lawrenceville Technology Center in Pennsylvania as one of the top impact projects of 2017. The project was one of just three recognized in all of North America.

“We are honored by this recognition,” Donald Smith, RIDC’s president, said in a prepared statement. “It is a testament to our team, but more importantly to the great partners and their catalytic projects that RIDC is uniquely able to help make happen.”

RIDC acquired the Heppenstall Building (also known as the Blue Building) in 2002, and it sat vacant for many years before the redevelopment started. RIDC partnered with Allegheny County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to remediate and prepare the site for future development.

“Implementing effective and creative approaches to drive the redevelopment of brownfields has been an area of significant focus for the Wolf Administration,” Dennis Davin, Department of Community and Economic Development’s secretary, said in prepared remarks. “We applaud RIDC’s efforts to bring this project to fruition and extend our sincere congratulations on its recognition one of NAIOP’s top 2017 impact projects.”

The renovated Blue Building has become a centerpiece for robotics growth seeing several automated vehicle companies sprout from the team assembled by Carnegie Robotics. 

The focus on brownfield redevelopment for the burgeoning tech sector continues in Lawrenceville with the construction of the new $20 million Tech Forge Building.