Who?
Testa Consulting

“This place is so much cooler than anywhere in Greentree or Wilkins Township.  The building is so flexible and has a good mix of tenants.  Plus, it’s exciting that it’s not just a 9 to 5 building; people are coming and going all day.” - Mike Testa

Testa is a technical consulting company that provides information technology staffing services; they are self-proclaimed “geek matchmakers”.  Their motto is “the right geek for the job”, and they take pride in their ability to properly match skilled IT candidates (both temporary and full-time) with companies in the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

Where?
1200 sf space on the 4th floor of the Crane Building, 40 24th Street in the Strip District

Testa Consulting was a Cool Space Locator client back in 2002 when CEO Mike Testa realized it was time to move out of a suburban office park in Wilkins Township.  Mike was looking for a new space with a good location, ample parking, and a unique character.  He knew that his business was growing out of their existing space and he had started looking for space in June of 2002; he found his match in December and moved in at the end of February.  The historic Crane Building in the Strip District was a perfect match for Testa Consulting because of the great character and design, technology infrastructure, parking, proximity to clients, and a central location so that Testa’s employees, clients, and candidates can all easily get to the office. 

Nearing the end of his 3-year lease term, Mike Testa decided to check back in with Cool Space Locator.  He felt that the 1200 sf space could hold his company for another two years or so before growing substantially, but wanted to see some other spaces that may be better suited for expansion in the future.  After seeing a few spaces, Testa decided to renew his lease for another two years at the Crane Building.

Mike Testa had originally seen the Crane Building on his own, but he wasn’t satisfied with the initial offer.  CSL showed him many other spaces around Pittsburgh, but the more spaces he saw the more it seemed like the Crane Building was the place for him.  CSL negotiated a new deal that satisfied Mike, while guiding him through the process every step of the way.

When Mike started the firm back in November 1997 it was a one-man show.  After celebrating the firm’s eighth anniversary in 2005, Testa employed four in the office and had a total of 36 temporary IT staff out in the field.  With the IT industry expanding, Mike expects his company to grow as well.  He’s happy to be in the Strip District, especially because so many visitors to the office make comments about the great environment.  With the Armstrong Cork Factory development next door, he expects even more activity outside the doors of the Crane Building in the future.