Friendly spaces for Pittsburgh’s Friendship Circle
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Friendly spaces for Pittsburgh’s Friendship Circle

October 5, 2016, 6:41 pm 0 Edit
From top to bottom, the new Friendship Circle building boasts a fun-filled, inclusive environment. The facility’s green roof is a favorite spot for many members, serving as a serene outdoor area in the bustling business district of Squirrel Hill. Throughout the summer, The Friendship Circle has begun the process of upgrading this space. A rooftop garden has been added and there are plans to install a small climbing wall sometime in the next year. The roof has a spectacular view of Murray Avenue, enhanced by a quiet distance from the cars and buses speeding past. Photos by Howard Doughty/Immortal Images
From top to bottom, the new Friendship Circle building boasts a fun-filled, inclusive environment. The facility’s green roof is a favorite spot for many members, serving as a serene outdoor area in the bustling business district of Squirrel Hill. Throughout the summer, The Friendship Circle has begun the process of upgrading this space. A rooftop garden has been added and there are plans to install a small climbing wall sometime in the next year. The roof has a spectacular view of Murray Avenue, enhanced by a quiet distance from the cars and buses speeding past. Photos by Howard Doughty/Immortal Images

A collaboration between Pittsburgh architecture firms Seigle Solow & Horne, and Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel (PWWG), the Friendship Circle’s new space on Murray Avenue, which was officially unveiled to the public last month, is a state-of-the-art facility with amenities to help further its mission of making the community more inclusive for people with special needs.

The photos depict the rooftop deck that is being completed with lounge and eating areas, as well as recreational space, a climbing wall and urban garden. The office area provides space for staff, volunteers and Friendship Circle members who work in the office and opens up to the program spaces below. Multipurpose rooms include The Great Room, a teen and parent lounge, a working kitchen for programming and storefront space to allow for increased interaction between Friendship Circle members and the community at large.

The first floor of the building is where the fun happens. Several programs have already been hosted in the great hall, including the 2016 Celebration of Friends and the Grand Opening. This space can hold large groups and be used for a wide variety of clubs and activities. The great hall flows into the commercial kosher kitchen, which is fully ADA-compliant to accommodate members of all abilities.

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