Two Awards for ALCOSAN

The recently completed Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN), Environmental Compliance Facility and Garage is the recipient of two industry awards: 

• Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania, Environmental Project of the Year Award, 2024
• Architectural Engineering Institute, Award of Merit, Electrical Systems Design, 2025

The Environmental Compliance Facility (ECF) for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a state-of-the-art laboratory and office building designed to support ALCOSAN’s $2 billion Clean Water Plan. With a total area of 54,000 square feet, the facility reimagines laboratory operations to better address evolving environmental testing needs. It combines sustainable design, innovative technology, and operational flexibility, expanding ALCOSAN’s capacity and providing a forward-thinking design solution.

The design integrates multiple functions previously dispersed across various buildings into a single, unified structure. When the plant was first built in the late 1950s, these functions were consolidated on a single floor of the Administration building. As ALCOSAN’s environmental responsibilities grew, these functions spread across additional buildings in an uncoordinated way, leading to inefficiencies. The ECF marks a new beginning, with operational awareness and adaptation guiding the design to create a streamlined, intentional workflow that supports ALCOSAN’s future needs.

The ECF is a vital investment in ALCOSAN’s mission and is aligned with their dedication to environmental stewardship. The new building is 3 Rivers Proud, representing the region's values of innovation and progress. Featuring sustainable design, adaptable spaces, and advanced technologies, the facility increases operational performance while contributing to a lasting, positive impact, supporting the Clean Water Plan for decades.

To replace the surface parking displaced by the new ECP building, this project also includes a 5-story, 170,000-square-foot parking garage with 400 spaces. The garage had a fast-track schedule designed to minimize disruption to the active site and efficiently condensed parking into a vertical structure.