Photograph taken by Ed Massery
Originally created in 1955 as the first public space built over a parking garage, Mellon Square is a Modernist masterpiece. The completely restored Mellon Square reopened in May 2014, offering a renewed urban oasis for workers, visitors, and residents, while supporting economic growth in the city’s downtown core. To prevent the Square from falling back into disrepair, a maintenance fund was established prior to restoration.
(Originally Posted in Park Renovations October 19, 2020)
A recent Eden Hall grant is helping Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy continue its efforts to enhance the vibrancy of Downtown Pittsburgh. In June of this year, Eden Hall granted $175,00 to support a one-of-a-kind holiday light installation that will debut this November. The lights display will bring additional activity to the heart of the Central Business District and allow for the park to have off-season programming.
Partnering with Shiftworks, an organization with extensive experience in curating, and managing public art displays, and collaborating with light-based installation artist Joshua Ice, the holiday lights display will be unlike anything downtown has seen before. Programming such as live music and curator talks will complement this stunning artistic experience and allow visitors to engage with Mellon Square from November through January. The installation will open to the public on Light-Up Night, November 23, and run into mid-January.
Sculpture & Light Installation by Joshua Challen Ice
The Parks Conservancy’s goals for the installation include:
- Making Mellon Square a year-round attraction
- Welcoming at least 15,000 spectators and engaging at least 1,000 individuals in park programming while the installation is on display
- Weaving this installation into a broader strategy to activate Downtown Pittsburgh during the holiday season
- Being a model for how art can be on display and activated in unique ways throughout the year