Pittsburgh Opens Robotics Center in Old Steel Mill

Four-legged robots wearing cheetah print walked through a crowd of hundreds in Pittsburgh's Hazelwood neighborhood on Friday, carrying golden scissors to Governor Josh Shapiro. The unusual ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of Carnegie Mellon University's new Robotics Innovation Center, built inside a former steel mill.

The 150,000-square-foot facility brings together university researchers and tech companies under one roof. Field AI, a California-based artificial intelligence company, became the first corporate tenant to move into the space, claiming a 2,500-square-foot lab on the second floor.

Inside, the center features specialized spaces designed for building and testing robots, including a large in-ground pool for underwater technology development. Outside, a fenced "running room" lets engineers test robots across different simulated terrains.

CMU intentionally preserved the building's industrial heritage. Brown steel beams and concrete floors remain visible throughout the facility, honoring the space's past while serving its high-tech future.

"Innovation is not new to Hazelwood," said Sonya Tilghman, executive director of the Hazelwood Initiative. "Today, it simply takes a new form."

The center represents more than just new real estate for Pittsburgh. Mayor Corey O'Connor sees the facility as proof of his campaign promise to grow the city by attracting students, workers, and companies.

The Ripple Effect

Pittsburgh's robotics revolution started over 40 years ago when CMU launched the country's first robotics-focused academic department. Since then, the university has become a global leader in self-driving vehicle development and artificial intelligence education.

Now, that expertise is drawing companies from across the country to set up shop in Pittsburgh. Field AI President Shayegan Omidshafiei explained his company's decision simply: "If you want to build the future of robotics, you should do it alongside the institution that defined the field in the first place."

CMU hopes more companies will follow Field AI's lead, turning the center into what University President Farnam Jahanian calls "a locus for the best companies in the world." The university designed the space specifically to encourage collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and engineers.

The transformation of Hazelwood carries special meaning for Jeff Young, whose architecture firm designed the center. Growing up a mile away, Young watched the Jones & Laughlin steel mill operate as a child, then later witnessed its demolition.

"It's intended to be a lab to roll your sleeves up and get dirty and make things," Young said of the new space. Governor Shapiro agreed, telling the crowd that Pittsburgh "was built for this moment."

The Steel City is proving that endings can become beginnings.