Tree Pittsburgh branching out in new riverfront center
It is tempting to compare Tree Pittsburgh’s growth to that of a tree, from seedling to sapling to maturity in 12 years. And of course, mature trees keep growing. Which brings us to the nonprofit’s five-acre spread overlooking the Allegheny River in Upper Lawrenceville.
Earlier this fall, Tree Pittsburgh moved into its new building, bringing its offices, education program and nursery operations together for the first time.
The 6,000-square-foot center fits on a 70-foot-wide strip of land Tree Pittsburgh leases from the Urban Redevelopment Authority between the river and the Allegheny Valley Railroad. It used to be the site of a steel casting company.
Matt Plecity, the lead architect from GBBN Architects, described the style as tectonic architecture, which is common in the Pacific Northwest. It looks like a very long tree house, with a tilted roof covered in solar panels and a generous wood front porch.
The side that faces the river is lined with large windows, triple glazed for insulation.
The building includes a classroom that can be rented out for private functions. The revenue from those rentals will support the continued growth of the nonprofit, said Danielle Crumrine, the executive director.
The new center — its infrastructure and land development, including brownfield remediation — is a $2.8 million project, for which Tree Pittsburgh is raising the final $500,000 to complete.
It was prefabricated and mounted on helical piers above ground level so that the soil would not have to be disturbed. The building will rely almost completely on solar power for
energy and will collect and use all the rainwater from the roof in its nursery.
Ms. Crumrine said the organization’s contractors, led by Jendoco Construction, “cared so much about this project. They were always looking for ways to balance cost with design.”
Mr. Plecity said he loves opportunities to talk about his work with Tree Pittsburgh: “This has been a great partnership, a wonderful project for a wonderful client.”
Tree Pittsburgh was founded as a response to a shocking 2005 inventory of trees in public spaces — less than 31,000, about half the number city officials expected, and many of those were in fair to bad shape.
In 2006, the Shade Tree Commission hired Ms. Crumrine, fresh from leadership at Allegheny CleanWays, and Matt Erb, an arborist, to set up shop to raise awareness about our need for trees and their need for care.
By 2011, they had branched out considerably, with several more staffers and a heritage nursery on three lots donated by a private landowner in Point Breeze. Today, the nursery is growing thousands of native tree seedlings for restoration projects as well as for retailers.
What started out as two people using an office cubicle in East Liberty has become a rich habitat — for trees, wildlife and learning.
“The potential we now have for education is what makes this place so precious,” Ms. Crumrine said. “We even have an opportunity for job training for environmental professionals, nursery workers, ecologists, foresters.”
I am one member of the public that Tree Pittsburgh has educated about trees, first in a class of Tree Tenders. We learned about tree anatomy, tree growth, how and when to prune, the correct way to lay mulch, the importance of weeding and protecting the young root flare from dog pee, among other pretty technical information.
Throughout the city, hundreds of Tree Tenders participate in mulching parties and pruning days led by tree care coordinator Jake Milofsky.
After learning more about trees on my own, it struck me that when you compare one tree to one person for the good that each does for the Earth, even the most well-meaning person comes in second.
Tree Pittsburgh’s mission to improve the health, longevity and density of Pittsburgh’s tree canopy is part of its larger role of stewardship.
Its new home along the river is already being talked about at conferences, Mr. Plecity said.
“This is something that could be replicated on a residential scale. It has to be one of the most affordable net-zero energy projects in the country per square foot.”