Building community through a headquarters transformation

When The Pittsburgh Foundation began searching for a new headquarters, they faced a uniquely challenging real estate environment. During COVID-19, the 80-year-old community foundation needed to reimagine their workspace while the future of work itself remained uncertain.

"We were looking for space in a time when no one was clear about the future of work," explains Jennie Zioncheck, senior vice president of partnerships. "We had no idea if we wanted 4,000 square feet or 40,000 square feet."

The Foundation turned to JLL senior vice presidents Geoff Greco and Andrew Millberg, who quickly evolved from "real estate guides" to "thinking partners," helping the organization align their space needs with their mission of supporting regional vibrancy. This partnership led to a successful relocation to 912 Fort Duquesne Boulevard, creating a hub designed for community engagement and collaborative problem-solving.

"The Pittsburgh Foundation needed more than just office space—they needed a platform to amplify their community impact," notes Greco. "Our goal was to find a location that would serve as both a functional workplace and a meaningful community resource."

The Pittsburgh Foundation's mission centers on creating a vibrant, equitable and just Pittsburgh region that supports everyone. The mission is centered in community connection and regional vibrancy, and their new headquarters embodies these commitments through the following thoughtful design elements:

• Sweeping city views that inspire and remind staff and guests of their purpose

• Indoor and outdoor convening spaces that facilitate conversation and collaboration

• Accessible central business district location with convenient access to nearby amenities

• Works from local artists and grantees

• Natural light and biophilia throughout the space

• Available parking and proximity to multiple modes of transit

   

"Our new space is a beautiful reflection of not only the current values of The Pittsburgh Foundation but also the direction we're heading as a community foundation," says Zioncheck. "It was one of our goals to make sure that we were no longer just funding our nonprofit partners but offering them spaces and opportunities to solve problems together."

The Foundation's evolution from traditional grantmaker to community collaborator required a physical environment that could support this transformation. Lisa Schroeder, president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation, emphasizes this shift: "Traditionally, community foundations and foundations generally have grantees bring their requests, and then we made decisions about funding. What's happened over time is that we realized we have more to offer than just money."

The new space supports this expanded vision by hosting:

• Convenings of government officials and civic leaders

• Expert panels

• Statewide association meetings

• Summits focused on regional inclusive growth

• Donor education events

• Nonprofit capacity building

• Community problem-solving sessions

   

"Finding a space that could accommodate this transformation was critical," explains Millberg. "We needed to identify a property that provided both the flexibility for their evolving programming needs and the accessibility that would make it truly valuable as a community asset."

The Pittsburgh Foundation's relationship with JLL extended far beyond typical brokerage services. After Greco and Millberg secured the ideal location, JLL's Project and Development Services (PDS) team—which serves as owner's representatives managing all aspects of construction and development projects—led by Senior Vice President Nick Anthony, took ownership of the project from concept through completion.

With JLL by their side, the construction brought to life their new 31,308-square-foot headquarters, which includes both private offices and open cubicles, rooftop patio seating, collaboration spaces with an abundance of natural light and sweeping city views.

"We absolutely have loved working with JLL from start to finish," shares Schroeder. "The JLL team is passionate about the city and passionate about their clients, and working through a very long, complicated project, they stayed with us every step of the way."

The project wasn't without obstacles. During lease negotiation, a local code regulation changed, affecting both landlord and tenant responsibilities with cost and schedule implications. The PDS team facilitated discussions to reach a fair and equitable resolution allowing the project to proceed successfully.

Another challenge was creating a space that balanced accessibility with inspiration.

"We wanted to think about what would make people safe, what would inspire them. How could we be comfortable without being intimidating, which sometimes happens in the halls of philanthropy," explains Schroeder.

Working through these challenges required understanding the Foundation's perspective on the project and its significance to their future. The PDS team prioritized Pittsburgh companies, partners, and artists to reflect the Foundation's community-centered mission.

For The Pittsburgh Foundation, success meant creating a space where community partners, donors, and employees could come together effectively, something their previous location couldn't accommodate. The bright, airy, informal yet beautiful environment has received overwhelmingly positive feedback.

"People's eyes light up when they talk about the new headquarters. I have yet to meet anyone who is not thrilled with the space,” says Schroeder.

For JLL, success was measured through several key metrics:

• Cost mitigation

• Business continuity

• Client satisfaction

• The Foundation's return on investment in JLL's services

The Pittsburgh Foundation's new headquarters represents more than a physical relocation—it embodies their commitment to community engagement and regional development. Through thoughtful design and strategic planning, JLL helped transform the Foundation's vision into reality.

"The Pittsburgh Foundation's mission is to connect community to create vibrancy. We understood this project had a significant impact on their future. They want to be able to bring people in but also be able to look back out at a beautiful view that also reflected the bridges that are built in this city,” said Anthony. “We needed to be stewards first, focusing on Pittsburgh companies, partners, and artists to truly reflect their vision.”

This successful partnership has positioned The Pittsburgh Foundation to continue its vital community work with renewed energy and expanded capabilities, demonstrating how strategic real estate decisions can support organizational transformation and community impact.