RIDC Mill 19
AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award
METROPOLIS Planet Positive Best Adaptive Reuse Innovation Award
AIA Minnesota Honor Award
AIA Minnesota Commendation for Excellence in Design for Change
Urban Land Institute (ULI) Pittsburgh Placemaking Award for Excellence as a Visionary Place
ENR MidAtlantic Best Project in Office/Retail/Mixed-Use Category
Challenge
RIDC sought to transform the former Jones & Laughlin steel mill into a high-performance hub for advanced manufacturing, research, and innovation while preserving the site’s iconic industrial structure. The project required a lighting design that would support ambitious sustainability goals, enhance occupant experience, and celebrate the historic character of the building without compromising energy performance.
Solution
Mazzetti developed an integrated lighting design that works seamlessly with the architecture, landscape, and preserved steel framework. Extensive skylights and high-performance glazing maximize natural daylight, reducing reliance on electric lighting throughout the facility. High-efficacy luminaires paired with daylight-responsive and occupancy-based controls further minimize energy use while providing comfortable, flexible illumination for a variety of tenant spaces.
The lighting strategy was closely aligned with the project’s renewable energy goals. A rooftop photovoltaic array supplies clean energy to the building, supporting highly efficient lighting systems that contribute to overall building performance. Mazzetti also designed lighting for a prominent interior green wall, creating a biophilic focal point that supports plant health and strengthens occupants’ connection to nature. Exterior lighting was carefully integrated to highlight the historic structure with warm, concealed illumination while minimizing light pollution and visual clutter.
Outcome
The completed project demonstrates how lighting design can advance sustainability, historic preservation, and occupant well-being within a large-scale adaptive reuse development. Through reduced lighting power density, advanced controls, daylight-driven design, and integration with on-site renewable energy, RIDC Mill 19 exceeds energy code requirements by 44% and achieved LEED Gold certification. The result is a landmark innovation campus that preserves Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage while providing a high-performance environment for the next generation of research and manufacturing.
