Cafe at the Point | Rob Pfaffmann

Cafe at the Point

Building Area: 230 sf

Project Cost: $600,000

Project Completed: July, 2011

Owner: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Client: Riverlife

Building on the themes for the Point: Confluence, Conflict and Renewal

The Cafe at the Point is an outgrowth of an extensive planning, restoration and interpretive design process that better tells the story of Point State Park, one of the key urban renewal projects of the 1950’s that was an anchor of the famed City’s Renaissance after World War II. The park’s original modernist landscape is one of the earliest examples in the United States. After the Master Plan was completed, the infrastructure of the park was totally renewed, an Interpretive Planning Process undertaken to define the goals for interpretation of the multilayered palimpsest that is the History of Point State Park (the architect was part of the Master Planning and Interpretive Design teams). 

The location of the cafe was very careful determined through archaeological and historic review of the design of the park. Early sketches guided support the location of structure at this key inflection point in the park’s view corridors. The site also sits above 18th century remnants of Ft Pitt and just inside the location of bastion walls that have been reinterpreted as a “tracery” of granite pavers set in to paving and grass. The site is also at an inflection point in an off axis curved walkway that connects to the the Portal Bridge. The Portal Bridge and the view corridor from the city is a key component of the Parks original design. The site selected is also part of a larger vision to connect the Ft. Pitt Museum located further into the Park.

Cafe Program: Support for Food, Interpreting History & Sustainability

The Cafe’s design was born from the idea that the program for a conventional food stand could be much more and tell visitors the story of of Fort Pitt (located below their feet). While the park is well served with fast food during the events such as the arts festival, it was determined that a small cafe could be supported on a regular basis based on increased foot traffic of lunch time walkers and commuters crossing into and through the Park. The Café at Point structure is really a support container for compact kitchen, storage and ADA Toilet. It features including a living roof and walls; recycled steel and masonry; natural interior lighting; high efficiency external LED light fixtures; and a storm water control system.  A Silver LEED rating for the Café is expected.

Building as Exhibit

Working as part of the interpretive planning team that included experts in traditional food-ways, native botany and French & Indian War history, the architects, designed a structure that is more wall than building. 

Three sides are covered native-vegetated green wall and roof responding to the park’s natural elements while the primary facade responds to the classic modern Bunshaft designed lines of the Portal Bridge. Floating above the etched stainless steel wall is a minimal glass canopy gently inflecting the Portal Bridge and approaching walkway. The canopy contains translucent images of native tree species located at the Point at the time of settlement.

A Gathering Place

It is hoped that the building will become a stage set for special exhibitions on food and drink on warm summer evenings as well as place to get a cup of coffee when traveling two and from the the City’s new trail connections.