Due to long-term deterioration from severe flooding and other harsh weather, Pittsburgh's Point State Park—a National Historic Landmark—was in great need of renovation. The $35-million renovation of the 36-acre park included lawn and woodland restoration, wharf reconstruction, updating utilities and construction of a cafe.

The project's fourth and final phase focused on the Point Park fountain. A main goal was to upgrade the fountain's central water column system so that it could regain its peak height of 150 ft. Crews also installed a new 154-ft-dia inner basin ring that achieves an infinity-edge appearance between the fountain's pool and the nearby river.

Point State Park is surrounded on three sides by water and, on the fourth side, borders the city's business district. Interstate 279 also crosses overhead, further constraining access.

The park is the pre-Revolutionary War site of Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt. Because of the park's landmark designation, crews had to take special precautions to protect historical artifacts.

The park, which hosts an average of three million visitors a year, had to remain open to the public throughout construction, even though nearly every surface was being renovated.

The renovation was the largest park project ever undertaken by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Point State Park Renovation, Phase 4, Pittsburgh

Key Players

Owner Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources

Design Firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic

General Contractor S.E.T. Inc.

Structural Engineer Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc.

Civil Engineer Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Inc.

MEP Engineer H.F. Lenz Co.

Architect SMP Architects

Landscape Architect Pressley Associates Inc.

Aquatic Engineer Counsilman-Hunsaker

Geotechnical Engineer Geo-Mechanics Inc.

Water-Feature Specialist Crystal Fountains

Non-Profit Civic Group of Urban Planners and Designers Riverlife

Mechanical Contractor Wayne Crouse Inc.

Plumbing Contractor AMB, Inc.

Electrical Contractor Right Electric Inc.