Having a cool headquarters, or at least a cool address, does not appear to directly correlate with strong retail sales.

Mojo-challenged Gap? Based in the San Francisco Bay area on the trendy left coast. Trend-setting Abercrombie & Fitch? Settled outside the Midwestern haven of Columbus, Ohio.

Maybe fashion-right American Eagle Outfitters Inc. doesn't need to move hundreds of employees from an office park in Marshall to an urban structure at the SouthSide Works within walking distance of restaurants and bars.

But the retailer that markets its clothing brand through spring break parties and college comedy contests can't exactly tout the fabulous work environment at its existing headquarters when cramped employees without windows have to check a camera trained on the parking lot to tell what the weather is like.

It will be hard to miss the weather in the new 186,000-square-foot headquarters that 350 employees will move into Monday. Huge windows with views of Downtown and Oakland dominate the exterior. Even the brick oven in the top-floor employee cafeteria is framed by lush views. And those employees whose windows overlook the neighboring parking garage still can get some satisfaction from knowing they get to use it for free.

The retailer plans to move another 300 or so down in two years when work finishes on a second, 150,000-square-foot building that will sit closer to the Monongahela River and have a veranda overlooking the water.

Bill Wade, Post-Gazette Huge windows with views of Downtown and Oakland dominate the exterior of the new American Eagle Outfitters headquarters at SouthSide Works. Click photo for larger image. Related story: At SouthSide Works, space is a hot item Listen In: Tom DiDonato, executive vice president of human resources for American Eagle Outfitters Inc. talks about Pittsburgh and the company's new headquarters on the South Side. How young people want an urban setting to live and work in and Pittsburgh is that. How the South Side works meets the needs of their young recruits from across the country. How the new South Side location brings it all together and will help lure people to Pittsburgh.

In addition, the company has taken about 40,000 square feet in another building at SouthSide Works that it is using for laboratory stores for its American Eagle chain and the new chain of aerie stores selling intimate clothing such as bras and underwear. A day care for employees' children is set to open in space along East Carson Street.

"We built this building and [planned] the other building to give us 10 years of growth," said Tom DiDonato, executive vice president of human resources.

The exact pace of growth could vary. Making clothes to meet changing tastes can be challenging. An earlier plan for a new headquarters had to be delayed when the retailer hit a slow period.

When the company felt confident enough to look again, a combination of government incentives and focus group results convinced it to choose a neighborhood near colleges as well as the funky atmosphere of East Carson Street.

American Eagle has been among the strongest brands in the industry for several quarters now as its designers consistently find denim styles and graphic T-shirts that its audience wants to wear. "In our industry, we're the place to be, I think," said Mr. DiDonato.

Every inch of the new building has been planned to nurture the kind of collaboration the company believes feeds the retail magic. Workstations should make impromptu meetings easy but there also are open lounges with wireless Internet access and the kind of couches that might be seen in American Eagle stores. "We actually will be happy when we see people sitting here and talking," insisted Mr. DiDonato.

To help the staff get to know its new neighborhood, the company assembled a welcome package that includes staff-written reviews of nearby restaurants and a handful of passes for places such as City Theatre and a nearby McCormick & Schmick's seafood restaurant.

American Eagle already is seeing the impact on recruits, said Susan McGalla, president and chief merchandising officer. The company currently is training a group of 18 new associates. "Many of those kids have decided to live on the South Side," she said.

Despite all the space it's taking on the South Side, American Eagle is not abandoning its longtime Marshall base, where it will continue to operate a distribution center and is building a data center.

But maybe more Pittsburghers will realize that the familiar presence at the mall actually is based here, too. A brushed steel eagle hanging off the front of the building -- one that measures 20 feet tall and 30 feet wide, and weighs 10,000 pounds -- ought to help put the company on the regional radar.

Ms. McGalla is looking forward to finally having a headquarters that has elbow room and blends seamlessly with the image American Eagle has crafted so carefully. "I'll be down there Sunday unpacking boxes."