Building on over 15 years of successes in the Urban Laboratory, the Remaking Cities Institute works to ensure and expand the education, community visioning, and multidisciplinary research efforts of Carnegie Mellon University, while strengthening partnerships.

REMAKING HAZELWOOD

The Remaking Cities Institute (RCI) was founded by the Heinz Endowments to convene, host and facilitate the interaction of a select group of technology visionaries to think about the future of the Pittsburgh region, and to put at their service our expertise in urban design and community development. Our work begins in the Greater Hazelwood Area, home to one of Pittsburgh's last remaining large riverfront brownfield sites.

The Wall Street Journal published an article in 1999 calling Pittsburgh "Roboburgh" in recognition of the local concentration of talent in robotics. Can this city that historically has been known as "Iron City" become associated with the incorporation of innovative technologies in our social, cultural, economical, fiscal and natural environments?

What if Pittsburgh becomes a worldwide reference again for something as central to our perception of "modernity" as steel has been for the last century? What if cutting edge technologies are embedded into the daily lives of our communities now? What if robotics spin-off companies settle in the region? What if through technology we can extend the productive participation of aging and disabled populations in the everyday life of our communities; and what if that becomes a major industry? What if the same happens with entertainment technology? What if major international companies are successfully attracted to open manufacturing and/or R&D activities in proximity to the before-mentioned activities? What if 1,000 students move into the Hazelwood area? What services will grow around them? What if Junction Hollow becomes a transit corridor? What if we develop programs for current residents to take advantage of the growing employment opportunities in some of those sectors? What if all this is done with a strong sense of respect for the ecological framework of the region and with a commitment to diversify the economic and cultural opportunities product of the intervention?

These ideas only scratch the surface of the possibilities that could be created by aligning the creative energy of our universities, the motivation for new product development of firms, the principles of sustainable community design and the energy and leadership of our region.

(Photo: GTECH Strategies/FRC bioenergy reclamation remediation site, Hazelwood.)

Remaking Hazelwood, Remaking Pittsburgh (2007) Download .PDF