Take a tour inside a $2.6 million penthouse overlooking Station Square

Passersby driving on the Parkway East may not realize that a large penthouse with a spacious balcony overlooks them from above — with literally million-dollar views.

But 19 stories up, a luxurious penthouse at 151 First Side on Fort Pitt Boulevard is making its debut on the market.

“Every inch has a view,” said Matthew Swab of Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty.

It is the first time the unit has been up for sale since its completion in 2008. The four-bedroom, 3½-bathroom 3,600-square-foot two-floor penthouse is priced by Piatt Sotheby’s at $2.655 million. The sellers are former Peoples Gas CEO Morgan O’Brien and his wife, and Kathy.

Walking onto the balcony, looking through a transparent barrier, one can see an expansive view of the Monongahela River and peer into Station Square. The other side of the penthouse offers views of Fifth Avenue Place.

Swab admitted the word “cozy” doesn’t immediately come to mind when describing a penthouse. But that’s what this unit offers, he said.

The double-sided fireplace and floor-to-ceiling water wall create ambiance in the formal living room. The wall’s gold-and-red tiling creates a pop of color that is complemented by the Brazilian cherry hardwood flooring.

Jordan Schmitt | Tribune-Review

The formal living room of the penthouse at 151 First Side on Fort Pitt Boulevard.

A unique aspect of the home is a cozy sitting nook tucked behind the sweeping staircase connecting both levels, Swab said. It’s the perfect spot to gaze out at the Smithfield Street Bridge.

“The staircase is something out of a movie,” Swab said.

The master bedroom offers its own signature view. Expansive windows display Pittsburgh differently than any other viewpoint in the city.

Courtesy of Piatt Sotheby’s International Realty

An illuminated view of the master bedroom at the penthouse of 151 First Side.

One can watch vehicles make their way across the Fort Duquesne Bridge and up and down McArdle Roadway to and from Mt. Washington as well as cable cars climb up and down the Monongahela Incline.

“You usually don’t get cozy in a penthouse,” Swab said. “But (the O’Briens have) created it.”