Local Woman Tapped To Single-Handedly Complete New Arena

forbes_field

PITTSBURGH – Patricia J. Rogers, Exhibits Coordinator at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Science Center, has been selected to single-handedly finish construction of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ new arena, dubbed the Consol Energy Center. 

The construction crew working on the building since 2007 has been dismissed from the job.

Ms. Rogers got the assignment after members of the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County saw the 1:64 scale model that she built of Forbes Field, former home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, for the Science Center’s Miniature Railroad and Village.

Noah Swayne, Director of the Sports & Exhibition Authority, explained that ”when we saw [the Forbes Field model], that was the end of everything.”  Since Ms. Rogers “proved she can be trusted with small things, we felt she can be trusted with big things.”

Rogers said the new arena will pose challenges that she did not face in building the Forbes Field model.

“The most important thing is, I won’t be able to pretend that I’m a giant towering over the structure anymore,” she said. “And that leaves me with some sadness.” 

Since Rogers will be completing the arena without help from anyone, she said the scheduled completion date has been pushed back from 2010 to 2052.

Jun 25