Beauty Shoppe, a Pittsburgh-based coworking company, today announced the opening of its new joint venture, Arsenal Motors, in Lawrenceville. The building opened its doors to members and public reservations on July 6, 2020 after construction delays caused by Covid-19. Spanning an entire neighborhood block, the 30,000 sq. ft. mixed-use project is a joint venture of Q Development, Ernie Sota of Sota Construction, and Beauty Shoppe.
Featuring collaborations with award-winning local designers, makers, and artists, Beauty Shoppe Arsenal Motor’s design, services, and programs are tailored to service individuals, small businesses and companies seeking remote, flexible, workspace in the heart of one of Pittsburgh’s most desirable neighborhoods.
“Fitting with the Beauty Shoppe approach, Arsenal Motors combines hospitality, community and creativity for an experience intended to elevate that of going to an office while fitting with today’s ever-changing needs,” said Matthew Ciccone, CEO of Beauty Shoppe. “Arsenal Motors embodies local: it is a collaboration of local real estate, community groups, fabricators and designers serving local office-goers, and meeting their needs with local products and services. This is especially important in the Covid-19 era, and we are proud of our ongoing partnerships and support for all things local to Pittsburgh. It is what the Beauty Shoppe brand is all about.”
Originally built by Ford Motor Co. in 1910 as a manufacturing space, the new Arsenal Motors will offer workspace for businesses and individuals, a cafe and additional storefront concepts, a rooftop deck, and events and gatherings spaces. The coworking space features private offices and workstations spread out across two floors in “neighborhoods” for small teams emphasizing privacy, as well as eight unique bookable event and meeting spaces including lounge space, a boardroom, conference rooms and kitchen spaces. The building also features four “studios”, designed as more bespoke office experiences for non-traditional users. The studios are created as team-oriented design and creative spaces, which could even be used for retail and production.
The building’s well-considered amenities will feature a ground floor cafe intended to serve both the public via a Butler Street storefront, as well as provide catering services to Beauty Shoppe members, their guests, and meetings and events. In addition to the café, the Beauty Shoppe team is actively seeking options for the remainder of the retail space, and is open to proposals from interested partners. The ground floor of the building also offers internal bicycle parking, showers for commuters and indoor parking. The building’s rooftop will be transformed into a seasonal work and meeting space, bookable for private events, meetings and workouts. Details on the ground floor and rooftop outfits, as well as new collaborations and partnerships, will be announced in the coming weeks.
True to Beauty Shoppe’s and its partners’ track-record of reimagining historic, neighborhood buildings through collaboration, the Arsenal Motors team included Sota Construction, Desmone Architects, interior design by Studio Lithe, a new Pittsburgh-based interiors and design studio that was spun out of Beauty Shoppe, furniture by Pittsburgh-based Bones & All, and a number of other Pittsburgh-based as well as a few out-of-town makers and artists.
Despite challenges posed by Covid-19, Arsenal Motors membership pre-bookings have already taken over 30% of space in the building, outpacing expectations. In response to the pandemic and their commitment to the wellness of members and their team, Beauty Shoppe has activated a number of safety measures for all who are part of the Arsenal Motors community.
“This project was created as a long-term hub for Pittsburgh’s business community, and this level of early interest in Arsenal Motors during these uncertain times is a strong indicator of the trust in and enthusiasm for the Beauty Shoppe brand,” Ciccone said.
Arsenal Motors amenities are available to building members continuously as part of their membership. Pricing for memberships is as affordable as $200 per month, $30 per day, and private meeting space starting at $75 per hour. Arsenal Motors will host its first of four socially distant summer open houses on Friday, August 7th. For more information about open house dates, public reservations and membership, visit Beauty Shoppe. Photography styled and shot by Studio Lithe. Exterior photos from Beauty Shoppe.
