An award-winning core and shell office building brings state-of-the-art experiential spaces and sustainable features to the iconic Bakery Square district in Pittsburgh’s East End.

Built-to-suit for Philips Sleep and Respiratory Care, this 330,000 square foot, Class A office building connects to the Bakery Square campus via a series of thoughtful public spaces and a sleek pedestrian skybridge.

Bakery Office Three is designed to prioritize environmental sustainability, targeting LEED Gold certification. Sustainable systems characterize this project, starting with the building’s site and envelope. Native plants and rain gardens serve to manage stormwater locally, while playing host to ecologically diverse fauna. 

The building’s skin is designed to harmonize with neighboring structures and the site’s urban location. Exceeding the as-of-right zoning height limit by three stories, the building’s façade is sectioned into three distinct zones to visually break up the building’s mass. Additionally, the middle structural bay is shifted in plane from the main façade, evoking the tower proportions of the nearby Nabisco Building and denoting the entrance locations.

The expansive glass curtain wall admits abundant natural light to the offices within, enhancing wellbeing for occupants and reducing energy use. The window glass is filled with argon gas to boost its insulative value, and the glass surface is coated with an invisible film that limits solar heat gain. Material assembly and connection details were meticulously designed to control water, resulting in a durable, low-maintenance skin.

The building’s interior is rich with unique and memorable spaces. Biophilic motifs and features beautifully complement high-tech installations, starting in the main lobby, where natural walnut paneling interfaces with illuminated metal panels, perforated with a tree pattern. The lobby’s centerpiece is a sculptural walnut and concrete reception desk, its curves symbolic of Western Pennsylvania’s hilly terrain.

Visitors to the upper floor common lobby are greeted by a living green wall, which cleans the air and provides a glimpse of nature in a part of the building without access to natural light. Sleek white glass paneling adds depth and dimension to the space, and the mossy, cobbled carpet pattern suggests a playful ambiguity between inside and outside space.

Each night, visitors to Bakery Office Three are treated to a vibrant light show, as Sally’s Path comes alive with multi-colored lights and sculptural light trees. A pixelated paving pattern enhances the immersive digital feel of the space. Beloved by locals and sought out by Instagrammers, Sally’s Path is the winner of several design and industry awards.

Project Manager/Lead Designer/Project Architect

[with Strada]