Heinz 57 Center

McKnight purchased this iconic Pittsburgh landmark, the former Gimbel’s Brothers department store, in 1999 for approximately $15,000,000. At the time, the majority of the building’s space had been unoccupied for over 15 years and was in terrible disrepair. In order to create value, this property needed to be entirely repositioned. McKnight’s concept was to substantially transform the former department store into a first-class office building. To accomplish this, the partnership invested in a total renovation; new mechanicals were added, the exquisite exterior terra-cotta was repaired to be consistent with historic guidelines, and an 8-story atrium was built to bring light to dark interior floor plates which were over an acre in size. In 2001 Heinz leased 310,000 sq. ft. in order to relocate their North American headquarters into the building, at which time the building was renamed the Heinz 57 Center. McKnight has continued to attract first class tenants to the building, and this highly successful building remains McKnight Realty Partner’s flagship property.