Work

DRS designed the new state-of-the-art indoor batting practice facility for the University of Pittsburgh Softball Team. Located just beyond the left field wall of Vartabedian Field, the new building is primarily masonry construction with an impact-resistant aluminum storefront to withstand the daily batting by the softball team. The 24’ tall, 3600 SF facility includes two full-size netted batting cage tunnels, three infield clay pitching mounds, and substantial equipment storage space for the team. Additionally, the facility features six instant feedback cameras with four TVs and surround sound speakers, which provides the team with a high-quality, advanced training experience. The new interior turf flooring extends to the exterior of the building to provide outdoor practice space accessible via the four overhead doors on the front façade.

The renovation of 8 floors at Salk Hall created a measure of sophistication and professionalism reflective of the acclaimed academics of the School of Pharmacy and the School of Dental Medicine. The renovations included infrastructure upgrades to all spaces including open lounges for impromptu meetings and social gatherings, classrooms, laboratory and research spaces, graduate workrooms, private and open offices, and conference rooms. As associate architect, DRS was responsible for the implementation of all finishes and furnishings and the exterior repair and refurbishment of the building.

High-end conference space for private client meetings. Spaces include reception, a board room with a folding glass partition to open to the reception, multiple conference rooms of various sizes, a client pantry, an employee pantry, a mothers' room, and new restrooms.

DRS Architects completed the architectural design for the exterior renovations to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh North (CHP) outpatient facility. The most drastic upgrade was made to the main entrance with a brand new, 4,000 SF, drive-under canopy. New windows were added throughout the building and the landscaping, signage, and site furniture were refreshed to make a much more user-friendly space for the patients, their families, and the staff. CHP’s fun color palette highlights the canopy structure, window mullions, and signage. Parking lot improvements included 25 additional parking spaces, new ADA parking spots at the front and rear entrances, asphalt patching, sealing, and new striping.

The project consisted of replacing a 25’x50’ barrel vault skylight, in the senior living facility’s main atrium, that was failing due to age. The original plan was to replace the existing skylight with one that was similar. After analyzing the space, we decided to design a clerestory structure to allow for the same natural light, while increasing the energy efficiency of the facility. This approach eliminated the major temperature fluctuations the atrium was experiencing, and the existing HVAC system is now fully capable of serving the space. The design is a durable, long-term solution.

DRS was engaged to design a new Sales Lab for the Rowland School of Business. The project included a flexible classroom, a conference room, and three separate interview rooms complete with audio and video feedback where students could practice their interview skills. Located off the main elevator lobby, the use of school branding was applied on the glazing to obscure views into rooms, and walls and ceilings were acoustically detailed to provide the necessary sound control between the public and sales lab spaces.

This project involved renovations to two buildings on Clarion University’s campus, Stevens Hall and Moore Hall, to make the buildings more accessible to physically disabled visitors and students.

The main part of Stevens Hall was constructed in 1929 as a classroom building for the Clarion Normal School. In 1962, the Special Education Addition was built on the north side of the building, but the floors of the addition were a half-level off from the original building’s floors. In the 1980s, an elevator was added to the original building, however, it did not serve the Special Education Addition. The only link between the original building and the addition was a set of stairs. Wheelchair users had to take a circuitous route outside the buildings to get from one to the other.

Our new design solves the problem by adding an elevator at the juncture of the two structures. The elevator opens front and rear into both buildings, making all the public floors of both buildings accessible to wheelchair users. The design also includes a new accessible entrance from outside, directly into the elevator lobby. Other renovations included bringing the restrooms up to modern codes, new door hardware to make doors ADA-compliant, and assorted other improvements to make the buildings more accessible.

This project involved ADA improvements and renovations to two buildings on Clarion University’s campus, Moore Hall and Stevens Hall. Moore Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus, was built in 1890 as a music building and is now used as a meeting space. The building’s original front entrance was one floor above grade and could only be accessed by a set of stone steps. The building did not have an elevator and the main floor was only wheelchair accessible through a ramped entrance at the rear of the building. The second floor was not handicap accessible. The new design of the building includes a new main entrance on the side of the building with a glazed vestibule, which also serves as the elevator lobby. The interior of the building was renovated to include new and remodeled restrooms, new door hardware, and the limited renovation of some of the surrounding spaces.

The extensive renovation of Duquesne University’s basketball arena begins the implementation of a comprehensive athletics masterplan DRS completed for the University in 2017. The new UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse reconfigures this 4,000-seat venue to create an exciting game-day experience for fans while consolidating athletics training and administrative functions in one multi-purpose facility. Wrapping the restructured and expanded building envelope with a generously-glazed brick arcade, Duquesne contributes a new civic presence to its Uptown neighborhood and welcomes all of Pittsburgh with a view of University life.

This project was a recipient of a 2021 MBA Building Excellence Award, which focuses on unique project challenges and innovative solutions.

Construction: PJ Dick; Atlantic Engineering Services; Firshing, Marstiller, Rusbarsky, & Wolf Engineering; Gateway Engineers; Pashek+MTR; Curran Taylor

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Neuroscience Center of Excellence is a renovation project located in the lower level of the Hardner Building on the AHN-Saint Vincent campus. The AHN Neuroscience Center of Excellence medical team provides expert and individual outpatient care, using a personalized approach for each patient’s neurological condition. DRS Architects completed the architectural design and interior design, as well as coordinating engineering with CJL Engineers and performing construction administration services.

Considering our rich history at the previous Westinghouse Electric Corporation’s campus, DRS was brought back by the new owners, Next Tier Real Estate Investors to revitalize the building. DRS is currently working with Next Tier on the Master Plan Visioning for Public Amenities, Interior Signage & Way Finding, and the Conference Center & Management Office Renovations. Next Tier knows not all tenants have the capability of dedicating large volumes of space to meeting spaces, as such they asked DRS to reimagine the outdated auditorium into a contemporary conferencing center capable of handling multiple set-ups and various meeting types.

With the increasing demands for law enforcement DNA processing, this new DNA Analysis Laboratory is designed around state-of-the-art procedures for evidence chain-of-custody, prevention of evidence contamination, and long term evidence storage. Lab technicians alternate their work between two workstations, one in an open office area and one within the laboratory; both spaces are separated by negative-pressurized vestibules to prevent cross contamination. Recognizing the lab as the main function of the facility, that space has been wrapped in a patinated copper envelope and elevated to float above the masonry base of the building.

The recently completed TV/Video & Radio Studio is located off an active four-story atrium in a major healthcare facility. The Studio is designed to increase the social, creative and learning opportunities for patients and their families during their stay at the hospital.

The newly renovated Creative and Expressive Arts Therapy Suite (CEAT) at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh was designed to provide an environment for therapists to engage in the healing process with patients. The spaces provide an alternative method of healing through the use of music and art as a form of communication where there otherwise may not be words. Biophilic design principles combine daylight, color, materials and organic forms supporting the healing process through the connection of patients and their families with nature. The Suite is a place for children and families to develop their creative expression; allowing them to improve and enhance their physical, mental and emotional well-being during their stay at the hospital.

DRS was asked by BNY Mellon to update staff areas on two floors of their headquarters building in downtown Pittsburgh, incorporating the latest innovations in contemporary working environments. Interior renovations included changes to floor plans, light levels, and the establishment of zoning through furniture, floor finishes, and ceiling materials to create new visual connections from space to space, while maintaining areas for private interaction.

A leading Pittsburgh Healthcare provider selected DRS Architects to create an MIBG (Metaiodobenzylguanidine) Therapy Suite for the highly specialized treatment of cancer patients for whom standard induction chemotherapy is either inappropriate or ineffective. The high doses of radiation administered during MIBG therapy requires the patient to be isolated for up to 7 days in a treatment area wrapped by as much as 3/4” lead shielding to contain the radiation and protect doctors, nurses, and family members from its otherwise harmful effects. Architecturally, both natural and simulated daylighting features were incorporated as design features of the patient rooms as well as the adjoining family suite to help mitigate the extreme physical and psychological effects of acute illness and its treatment conditions.

A new Starbucks, prominently located in the main lobby of the hospital, was developed to give patients, visitors and employees access to convenient grab-and-go service and break-room seating. A key element of the design is a playhouse, which carves a secluded, comforting escape for children from the bustle of a busy public space.

DRS worked with Allegheny Health Network to create an Outpatient Center in a popular Waterworks shopping mall just northeast of downtown Pittsburgh. The extensive renovation converted a former Old Navy store to a primary and express care center including cardiology, orthopedic, OB/GYN and diagnostic imaging (X-ray, CT scans, 3-D mammography) services.

HF Lenz, Taylor Structural Engineers, Landau Building Company

DRS completed interior renovations at Allegheny Health Network’s Somerset County Oncology Center to replace the Linear Accelerator (Versa HD), a highly versatile radio therapy technology that enables doctors to treat a wide range of cancer patients. The renovation, which successfully met strict schedule and budget requirements, included a Linear Accelerator Treatment Room, Scanner Room, Control Rooms, Waiting Area and Staff Offices.

CJL Engineering, Taylor Structural Engineers, MBM Contracting

Sushi Fuku was developed out of a joint force between UPMC and the owner of several local Sushi Fuku restaurants. The goal of the project was to expand the food service offerings at UPMC Presbyterian to give patients, their families, and employees a larger variety of easily accessible meals. With the restaurant spanning both the hospital and Scaife Hall, DRS was presented with a unique and complex permitting process to coordinate. DRS provided space planning and architectural design services incorporating Sushi Fuku finish and casework standards, while ensuring that the restaurant fit within the context of the existing cafeteria.

3 Crossings is a mixed-use development in the Strip District, one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic and historic neighborhoods. DRS was brought into the development by Oxford Development to do a test fit at one of the office components. After a successful plan was established for the client, DRS was hired to complete the fit-out, working directly with the client’s corporate real estate team. Although relatively small in square footage, the space packs a punch. The design team created seven different areas specifically tailored to address employee preferences and working modalities. In 2018, the client had outgrown the space and DRS designed the expansion of the office.

In 2017, BNY Mellon asked DRS to re-imagine its Conference Center located at 500 Grant Street to include a variety of collaborative and group meeting areas for its staff. The objective of the extensive space reconfiguration, targeting both physical and psychological factors, was the creation of a “well-working” environment for the BNY Mellon team. Glass walls with gradient opacity provide openness while maintaining privacy; custom casework, informal seating, upgraded finishes, integrated media technologies, advanced lighting systems and improved air quality, all contribute to the health and productivity of Mellon’s interactive workspace.

DRS was engaged to transform the existing Café in Montefiore Hospital from a soup and sandwich café to a pizza café. The project included renovating the existing café serving area, dining area, and kitchen; adding a pizza oven; converting a storage room into a café pick-up; and creating a new prep kitchen. The new Brick-Side Eatery serves custom pizzas and hot sandwiches for customers in the sit-down dining, take out from the pick-up area, and service to outdoor seating in warm weather.

The six-story Fairfield Inn & Suites was designed to express the principles of Marriott Hotels’ Work Well, Eat Well, Rest Well, Be Well campaign. Inspired by the science of ergonomics, this most economical Marriott product provides a productive, efficient and stress-free environment for both business and leisure travelers.

The New Community Center provides a capstone for North Fayette Township’s Donaldson Park Recreation Complex. Overcoming challenging budget, topographic and program constraints, DRS worked closely with community leaders to create this signature, multi-purpose venue which includes a basketball court, fitness areas, a running track, an indoor playground, a childhood learning center, administrative offices, an outdoor terrace and an upper floor banquet space / conferencing center for 150 persons, overlooking the Park. Serving one of the region’s most rapidly developing municipality’s, the structure is designed to accommodate a major future expansion, nearly doubling its current
footprint.

After many years of successful growth, Excel4Apps needed to expand their office. Wanting to occupy space more centrally located to downtown and Pittsburgh’s many universities, they chose space in 3 Crossings, located in the Strip District. DRS was hired by Oxford Development to design the new office space for Excel4Apps. High ceilings permit ceiling clouds, as needed for acoustics, while retaining the open view to the structural elements above. The space allowed for a combination of open and closed workspace throughout the office while maintaining access to an abundance of the natural light through the strategic placement of transoms and large sidelights.

A DRS client for over two decades, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort asked us to lead an extensive resort-wide architectural and interior renovation. The Resort offers six lodging options including Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, and AAA Four-Diamond rated accommodations. DRS completed renovation projects throughout the resort that included new/renovated terraces and patios, elevator upgrades, façade and roof repairs, interior/exterior swimming pool repairs, ADA upgrades, interior upgrades, and numerous other miscellaneous items.

This building complex for the Schools of Pharmacy & Dental Medicine updates a design DRS originally completed in 1987 with an extensive renovation and the addition of a new, 80,000 SF, LEED Silver research pavilion. Large, open lab spaces and a two-story, naturally lit, central commons allows students and faculty to interact and conduct their research in an environment that is both, pedagogically and technologically, state-of-the-art. The project was executed in collaboration with Ballinger.

DRS worked closely with the new ownership team and Hilton Brands Worldwide to breathe new life into a 30-year-old property located in the rapidly developing Cranberry Township, just north of Pittsburgh. It’s signature elements, a 16,000 SF, 5-story atrium and its 13,000 SF Ballroom (the 2nd largest in Western PA) were re-imagined and transformed to create an inviting and lively atmosphere that serves
both hotel guests and the local business community that use the public space for casual business meetings and social events throughout the day.

The design incorporates many of the latest ideas in hospitality design including: a new three-meal dining experience; integral display kitchen and fully-convertible bar; a casual, living-room style lobby including a wide variety of seating options; and personal technology features to enhance the guest experience.

This advanced suite combines a minimally-invasive, class-C operating room with a multi-axis, interventional imaging system for angiography and catheterization procedures. The project also included a number of functions to support the OR including a control room, an equipment room, a sub-sterile room, a clean storage room, staff locker/toilet rooms, a cryogen tissue freezer and nurse coordinators’ offices. The successful completion of this project has allowed Allegheny General Hospital to seamlessly transition between surgical and catheter-based therapies to deliver a comprehensive variety of cardiovascular procedures to their patients.

The Advanced Chemistry Laboratory (ACL) supports research work for the defensive mission of the United States Army to protect the soldiers against chemical warfare threats. The ACL supports highly trained research personnel in the study of super-toxic chemical warfare agents, lethal industrial materials, related weapons of mass destruction, and defensive counter measures. DRS was responsible for the 35% Design/Build RFP and well as construction monitoring. Based upon the positive feedback from the researchers using the labs, DRS was selected again to provide total architectural/engineering services for the $14M expansion of the facility. This project included expansion of both the Lab and Admin wings.

The Sundial Lodge serves Nemacolin’s guests as a four-season outdoor adventure center and full-service dining destination. Situated atop Mystic Mountain, the two-story structure of heavy timber and glass captures dramatic views of the surrounding Laurel Highlands landscape. Completed less than a year after the pre-existing lodge was destroyed in a tragic fire, much of the project’s success can be attributed to a close collaboration of owner, builder and architect to deliver another first-rate resort attraction in time for the following ski season.