The City of Pittsburgh Office of Management and Budget, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, is soliciting bids from qualified vendors for a Multi-Prime renovation of the Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living and Community Center.

This project is intended to provide a larger senior center to better serve the elderly community. In addition, the City of Pittsburgh is committed to enhancing building performance through sustainable measures as outlined in the City of Pittsburgh’s new Net-Zero/Net-Zero Ready Ordinance and as such is a major part of the design.  State Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Project (RACP) grant funds are being utilized to  help fund construction.

The finished project will activate the current 3-story building and site. Currently only the basement is occupied by the seniors. The new layout moves them into a larger more active senior center on the first floor and potentially the 2nd floor if the add-alternate is selected. The project poises Brighton Heights for an intergenerational community space for the entire neighborhood to enjoy. 

The new Brighton Heights Health Active Living and Community Center will greatly enhance this historic building, CitiParks programming, and the well-being of the community at-large. The project required complete architectural and engineering  design services and community engagement to ensure that the spaces designed function not only today but well into the future. The City is passionate about sustainable design and pursued strategies to create a quality, environmentally friendly building. An accessible route, outside and throughout the building is a major improvement as part of this renovation too. Installation of a new 3-stop elevator to access all floor levels will help the City meet the Federal Title 2 ADA code required for government-owned buildings. Additional improvements include new HVAC, plumbing, electric, fire safety and data/av/security systems. New fixtures, finishes and equipment (FFE) are interwoven to create a better building. Site work for the project is also part of the work and will enhance outdoor activities, programming and the accessible route to the building. The total project is an update of the existing structure and surroundings to meet contemporary building codes and properly protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

The multi-level building that the Brighton Heights Senior Center occupies was originally built around 1930 as a residence for elderly women.  The main floor and upper level were used for housing while the basement was eventually converted to a senior center.  A single-story addition and Porte cochere was built in the 1960s.  An addition at the basement level was added in 1990 to support the senior center programming.  Currently, the main and upper levels of the masonry building have been partially demolished and remediated of known lead and asbestos materials.  In the past few years the entire building was re-roofed and a series of new triple-pained windows were installed on the 1st floor to increase thermal efficiency.