The interior of the Detective Building in East Liberty. Beauty Shoppe transformed three floors of the former police bureau into co-working space. Image: TRIB Live
By Kathryn Reilly
Pittsburgh-based Beauty Shoppe, a firm that transforms historic buildings into elegant and inviting co-working spaces, has seen tremendous growth in recent years. SoA alumnus Matthew Ciccone (MUD ‘06), Beauty Shoppe co-founder and CEO, is highlighted in a recent TRIB Live article for the firm’s innovative redevelopment projects.
Beauty Shoppe now has 500 members in the city of Pittsburgh, and in 2018 expanded into Cleveland. Ciccone plans to open a similar concept in Detroit. “As people move toward freelancing and more flexible styles of work, co-working is a significant shift in the way people purchase office space,” Ciccone said. “There’s more demand, so we are opening more spaces. I don’t think that trend is going to stop.”
Ciccone first started transforming historic, yet underutilized buildings into beautiful workplaces beginning with the abandoned Liberty Bank Building in East Liberty. Staying true to the history of the buildings they work with, Ciccone and his partners consider each project’s original architectural features when making their aesthetic decisions. The result is modernly-decorated conference rooms and office spaces that can also boast unique features including fluted ceilings and ornate crown molding.
Beauty Shoppe is currently working with McKnight Realty Partners to revitalize the Pittsburgh Terminal Building in South Side to create a number of unique makerspaces for artisans and craftspeople. Their project, now known as “The Highline,” will include a number of enticing amenities to revive the century-old structure.
Check out the Trib Live Article for more information about the firm’s cutting-edge projects.
Kathryn Reilly is a third-year Professional Writing student in the Carnegie Mellon University Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.