Soffer History
The Soffer Organization is a commercial leasing, property
management and development company that owns and operates
approximately 2 million square feet of office, retail
and residential property in the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan
area. Founded 40 years ago, the Soffer Organization
has developed every building in its existing portfolio.
Penn Center East was developed in the early 1960’s
by Joseph Soffer, founder and chairman, and was the
first mixed-use development in the area. Our site was
the catalyst that encouraged growth in the east suburban
market. Today the center includes approximately 625,000
square feet of Class A office space throughout seven
buildings; approximately 350,000 square feet of upscale
retail/restaurants and department stores; and a 241
unit luxury high-rise apartment building.
The Shoppes at Penn Center East were built in 1999
in order to meet the needs of today’s demanding
business professionals. Adding to the existing retail
within the center, The Shoppes include a unique mix
of upscale retail and restaurants, which have created
a convenient and appealing amenity for our office tenants.
The fashionable courtyard has become an ideal lunch
hour venue for entertainment and outdoor summertime
dining. Our office tenants never need to leave the complex
for their lunch hour errands and meals.
Norwin Towne Square, another successful Soffer development
in Westmoreland County along Route 30, is a neighborhood
and community shopping center which includes 240,000
square feet of retail space in a strip center with four
free-standing buildings.
Penn Center West is positioned at the halfway point
between Pittsburgh’s CBD and the Pittsburgh International
Airport. Ten minutes west of the city, it is conveniently
located just off the Campbell’s Run Road exit
of I-279. The Soffer Organization began construction
of Penn Center West in the early 1980’s and continues
development today in order to meet the needs of the
airport corridor.
The Technology Park at Penn Center West was developed
in 1999 and is the first of its kind in the Pittsburgh
commercial real estate market. Buildings Six and Eight,
60,000 sf each, offer new opportunities for prospective
tenants. These high-performance buildings have a unique
raised flooring system and “green architectural
design” that create organizational flexibility
and adaptability to facilitate change.
R. Damian Soffer was awarded developer of the year
by the National Association of Industrial and Office
Properties (NAIOP) for the development of the Technology
Park at Penn Center West. Plans provide for an additional
30,000 sf tech building to be built in the near future.
Building Five at Penn Center West was complete in 2004
and is now the flagship building of the center proudly
overlooking the Parkway West. It offers 147,000 square
feet throughout five floors with excellent visibility
for the travelers along the I-279. In total, Penn Center
West encompasses 670,000 sf throughout 90 acres.
The Soffer Organization is currently developing 34
acres of prime riverfront property on the South Side
of Pittsburgh known as the SouthSide Works. In collaboration
with the City of Pittsburgh, the support of Mayor Tom
Murphy, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
(URA) and the South Side Local Development Company,
we are creating a multi-million dollar urban mixed-use,
lifestyle project.
The South Side’s East Carson Street is lined
with trendy storefronts, antique shops, art galleries
and a variety of dining alternatives. Our project will
create an extension of the already successful business
district of East Carson Street.
By the end of 2005, SouthSide Works will provide 600,000
square feet of office space and 300,000 square feet
of retail opportunities including a 10 screen cinema.
Plans for phase two construction along the Monongahela
River includes additional of retail/restaurants, office
space, condominiums, a hotel and entertianment venues.
Other properties owned, developed or managed by the
Soffer Organization include Plaza Office Building in
Pennsacola, Florida; Carolina Corporate Center in Raleigh,
North Carolina; and Shadow Wood townhouses in Trafford,
Pennsylvania. The Plaza Office Building is a 60,000
sf office building, which was sold in 1998. Carolina
Corporate Center, and 80,000 sf office building on 24
acres, was developed in the late 80’s and sold
in 1997. The land is still owned by the Soffer Organization
and is available for development or sale. And finally,
Shadow Wood townhouses, a 116 unit residential community,
were developed in the early 70’s and sold by the
Soffer Organization in the mid 80’s.
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