The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation on Tuesday unveiled more than 6,000 square feet of office space in a historic building and announced an art initiative.

The 130-year-old Lohr Building’s second and third floors will be available for rent. They, along with the first floor, have been revitalized to include their own entrances, new bathrooms and upgraded ventilation.

The renovations were made as part of two projects costing $9 million altogether. The other is the Wilkinsburg Train Station which is near completion, according to spokeswoman Joanna Doven.

“As trends show that remote workers no longer want to waste time commuting to downtowns, especially to high-rise environments, small, covid-friendly neighborhood micro-offices are the new trend,” said Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation executive director Tracey Evans in a statement. “Now that all floors of the Lohr Building are complete, we’re doubling down on efforts to leverage the unique floor plan which specifically allows for a company to have their own, private, social-distancing friendly space.”

Chad Chalmers, architect for Wildman Chalmers Design based in Troy Hill said the Lohr Building is the perfect neighborhood space. It’s set up so that there’s not a lot of density in terms of people being in one area, he said.

“It fits those from the area who might not want to go Downtown to work and can lease space in Wilkinsburg,” Chalmers said. “The building is set up for covid-19 guidelines in terms of social distancing and also, each floor has its own heating, ventilation and air conditioning system. There can be smaller scale offices which is great for some businesses.”

In conjunction with tours of the refurbished location at 729 Wood St., an initiative Wilkingsburg’s “Art All Over” to support local artists was announced. Part of the proceeds from sales of the pieces will support The Innocence Project, which helps people who are wrongly incarcerated. The first floor of the Lohr Building will house the artwork beginning with the works of local artist John Burt Sanders.

Sanders, who lives and works in Wilkinsburg, is from upstate New York. He was awarded an artist opportunity grant from the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council in 2014, as well as a travel grant from Ohio University in 2010.

A partnership with the Sleeping Octopus Artist Initiative, the year-long initiative will display the creations of local artists for a few months at a time. Items will be available for purchase.

Work from artist Zöe Welsh will be featured in mid-August with a group exhibition beginning in mid-November.

People can also experience the exhibits through photos and a virtual tour online at wilkinsburgcdc.org/artallover.

Evans said the idea started as a way to celebrate and promote Wilkinsburg artists and as a way to welcome people to the area.

Evans was joined by Wilkinsburg Mayor Mayor Marita Garrett, Hosanna House executive director Leon Haynes, Chad Chalmers of Wildman Chalmers Design and Anne Else from the Wilkinsburg Historical Society.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)