North Shore's Newest Building To House SAP Ariba, More Restaurants
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Pittsburgh's North Shore Drive has developed into exactly what the Pirates, Steelers and Continental Development envisioned more than 15 years ago.
Now, another piece of the North Shore puzzle has come into focus with the announcement of a Pittsburgh headquarters for SAP Ariba.
The new building will go up in Lot 3 between the StarKist building and the Fort Duquesne Bridge.
Sports and Exhibition Authority Executive Director Mary Conturo says the new building, "Brings the right type of activity, the right volume, and is a great development along the river."
A high-tech software and information technology services company, SAP Ariba will occupy five of the building's seven floors.
SAP Ariba Vice President Valerie Blatt says, "Today, we have 850 employees that sit already in jobs in Pittsburgh, but we have plans to bring 250 new jobs to SAP Ariba over the next three years."
The rise of the building is also critical to the extension of North Shore nightlife from Heinz Field to PNC Park.
Continental's Barry Ford says, "It's the one missing piece, so we're anxious to get it done and announce some restaurants."
SAP would like to be in the new building by February of 2019.
Meanwhile, Continental is well into the planning stage for the last piece of North Shore real estate, Lot 4 across from PNC Park.
Ford says, "Our number one goal is to enliven Mazeroski Way, so on game day it feels like Federal Street does."
Ford hopes to finalize a plan within the next six months, including the mix of housing, hotel and office space in the floors above the first-floor restaurants and night spots. Construction would begin in a year to year and a half.
All the development comes as welcome news to the venues already open on the North Shore.
Cassandra Buncie at Southern Tier says the more the merrier.
"I think the variety, and the choice benefits Pittsburgh as a whole," she said. "We're super excited to be here on the North Side to offer people more of an option where to go."
Burgatory's Herky Pollock says the North Shore is becoming a growing destination.
"It used to be we would have peaks and valleys. Game days it would be great, non-game days not so much," he said. "Now, it's seven days a week."
