Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) is planning to renovate the Aeberli House, a 12,000 square-foot
North Side property located adjacent to the hospital at 122 East North Ave.
The $2.5 million project will provide AGH with much-needed administrative offices and possible retail space. Vacant for two decades, the property has been designated a historic landmark by the city. The building was purchased in 1909 by William Aeberli and previously served as a funeral home.
"Our clinical programs continue to grow. The cardiac program is growing by leaps and bounds, and our
Allegheny-Singer Research Institute, which is on three floors of the south tower, continues to grow," says Dan Laurent, with AGH. "We anticipate significant growth in the next five years.The idea is that this will free up some space in the hospital's main campus."
Exterior work begins this month, including stabilizing the building's foundation, re-pointing the exterior brick and replacing the roof. Plans also call for reconstructing the porch and replacing period details such as railings, door and window hardware and decorative wood moldings.
Originally part of
Allegheny City, the Second Empire style Aeberli House features its original wrap around porch and ornately carved window ornamentation. In collaboration with the
Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Central Northside Neighborhood Council, Northside Leadership Conference, and Mexican War Street Society, AGH will restore the building’s original façade.
Ellis Schmidlapp of Landmarks Design Associates is designing the external renovation; contractor is Bridges Construction. The project’s first phase is funded by AGH and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. A second phase will focus on internal reconstruction, including utility and infrastructure improvements.
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: Dan Laurent, Allegheny General Hospital
Photograph copyright Brian Cohen