mossArchitects

10/22/2026

20 YEARS I 2012
BURGATORY RESTAURANTS
GREATER PITTSBURGH

Working with the team behind Burgatory, mossArchitects developed a design approach that could establish a recognizable identity while adapting to very different locations throughout the Pittsburgh region.

A modern, straightforward material palette, strong entry elements, and recurring architectural features created continuity from one restaurant to the next without making every location identical.

Over five years, we designed nine Burgatory restaurants, exploring how architecture could support a growing local brand while allowing each location to respond to its own setting.

10/21/2026

20 YEARS I 2011
ARSENAL BANK BUILDING
LAWRENCEVILLE | PITTSBURGH

Built in 1883 and 1884, the Arsenal Bank Building was once a prominent part of the Butler Street business district. By the time our client purchased it, the building was vacant and in need of significant repair.

The renovation focused on bringing activity back to this neighborhood landmark while respecting its historic character. The brick facade was repaired, windows were replaced, and large operable storefronts reopened the ground floor to the street.

A new restaurant brought people back inside and activity back to the sidewalk, giving a long vacant building a new chapter in the life of the neighborhood.

10/21/2026

10/20/2026

20 YEARS I 2010
CREEK DRIVE RESIDENCE
SEWICKLEY I PENNSYLVANIA

The owners of Creek Drive Residence loved where they lived, but their existing 1970s house no longer worked for them.

Rather than start over, the project transformed the existing structure through a complete renovation and carefully considered additions. Interior spaces were opened, connections to the landscape were strengthened, and a new exterior envelope dramatically improved both the character and performance of the home.

The result felt entirely new while retaining the structure that was already there.

It was another exploration of an idea that has remained important throughout our work: transformation does not always require starting from scratch.

10/19/2026

20 YEARS I 2009
LOLA HOUSE
LAWRENCEVILLE | PITTSBURGH

Built on a vacant urban lot in Lawrenceville, Lola House offered an opportunity to rethink the familiar Pittsburgh rowhouse.

The home maintained the scale of its residential surroundings while responding to the neighborhood’s industrial and working class history. Corrugated metal, cedar, cement board, and steel brought those influences together in a distinctly modern way.
Inside, loft like spaces and a dramatic two story living area balanced the industrial character with the warmth and comfort of a home.

Rather than recreate what was already there, the project looked to the neighborhood for clues about what a new Lawrenceville house could become.

10/18/2026

20 YEARS I 2008
SILVER TOP HOUSE
SOUTH SIDE | PITTSBURGH

How does a new home belong to two very different surroundings?

Silver Top House occupied a site at the meeting point of the South Side’s residential rowhouses and its industrial past. Warehouses from the former Duquesne Brewery surrounded the site, including a corrugated metal bridge spanning 22nd Street.

The design responded to both. Its scale and proportions related to the surrounding homes, while its forms and materials drew from the industrial structures nearby.

The result was a contemporary Pittsburgh home shaped by the very different pieces of its context.

10/15/2026

20 YEARS I 2007
KIRKWOOD SQUARE BUILDING
EAST LIBERTY, PITTSBURGH
Sometimes transformation begins by uncovering what is already there.

Originally constructed as a 1950s limestone bank building, Kirkwood Square had been dramatically altered during the urban renewal efforts of the 1960s. Our renovation removed later additions to reveal the original structure, windows, and limestone facade while introducing new color, glazing, rhythm, and depth. The result gave the building a renewed presence along the street.

It is an early example that has continued throughout our work: existing buildings often have more to offer than first meets the eye.

10/13/2026

20 YEARS | 2006
EAST LIBERTY TOWN SQUARE
PITTSBURGH, PA

We begin our look back in East Liberty, where mossArchitects worked with local stakeholders and community members to develop a master plan for the heart of the neighborhood.

Building on previous planning efforts, the project established a vision for a more welcoming and connected public realm, centered around Cathedral Plaza, a new public gathering space with green space, hardscaping, and a market pavilion.

Beyond the central plaza, the master plan identified development opportunities and established design principles for buildings, streetscapes, and future construction. A detailed assessment of existing buildings and streets informed a three phase approach to guide future improvements.

The result was a shared vision and practical framework to help stakeholders and developers guide the continued evolution of East Liberty.

10/08/2026

This year, we are celebrating 20 years of projects, people, ideas, and creativity.

Founded in Pittsburgh in 2006, mossArchitects began with a belief in the potential of the city and a desire to contribute to its future. Over the past two decades, our work has taken many forms, from transforming existing buildings to creating new places to live, work, gather, and experience our everyday lives.

As we get ready to celebrate our 20th anniversary with an exhibition at our studio, we are taking a look back. Over the coming weeks, we will share one project from each year of our practice, revisiting some of the work, stories, collaborations, and ideas that have been part of our first twenty years.

Join us as we reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to what comes next.

mossArchitects 20th Anniversary Exhibition
Friday, November 6
6:00-9:00pm
5122 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224

07/31/2026

mossArchitects is seeking a creative, inquisitive, and proactive interior designer or interior architect to join our growing team. Learn More: https://www.mossarc.com/careers