Look Up Series (Part I) - Pittsburgh - Steel Beams & Glass Plates

Evolving from a Native American settlement, to a military stronghold, from the gateway to the West to industrial hub and finally a leader in innovation, Pittsburgh has played many leading roles throughout history and its citizens have erected structures that exemplify those roles throughout time. Home to some of the most phenomenal structures in the world, Pittsburgh's architecture has always reflected its  importance at specific times in history and the innovation and industry leading techniques of its people and companies. Be it the Core-Ten beams of the USX Tower, the Solarban windows of PPG Place, the unprecedented steel lattice structure of the United Steelworkers Building or other downtown buildings that showcase Alcoa's aluminum products, Pittsburgh's architecture has always led the nation in its methods and showcased the city through grandeur and opulence.

While Pittsburgh is home to gems of architecture spanning from the 1800's to modern day, the following pictures showcase structures spanning from the "Pittsburgh Renaissance" to the turn of the millennium. With the use of a 50mm prime lens, the intention of the Look Up Series is to fill the entire frame with the towers of steel and glass, utilizing sharp lines and symmetry, common attributes of more modern architecture.

Gateway Center

composed of four structures, three towers standing at 24 stories tall and another at 22 stories tall. built with materials almost all originating from regional mills, the complex was planned after World War II and was intended to revitalize the downtown area by removing unsightly industry from he Forks of the Ohio and making the top of the Golden Triangle a "Gateway' for commerce. The metals used for the towers allow for fantastic lighting and the purple windows in one photo belong to a building on Stanwix Street and appear purple because I used a polarizing filter. Gateway Center is situated just behind Point State Park making it one of the first things seen from the confluence and plays host the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Gateway Center was the starting point of the Pittsburgh Renaissance as the three initial towers were constructed in 1952. The Distinct Orthogonal towers are the original three and the building with the sharp jutting lines is the fourth tower completed in 1960.

United Steelworkers Building

originally built for IBM in the 1960's, the 13 story structure with its diamond shaped exterior was at the time an engineering breakthrough and is easily the most photogenic building in Pittsburgh. The design incorporated a central core and four lattice truss walls with only two points of contact, allowing for column free open space. The contrast between the steel trusses and the windows make the building ideal for black and white photography while the unique exterior allows for amazing photographs from all angles

U.S Steel Tower

At 64 stories tall, the tower once known as the USX Tower is the tallest in Pittsburgh and for a brief moment was the tallest in the country outside of New York and Chicago. Its unique triangular shape and height make it the most distinguishable structure in Western Pennsylvania. The exterior beams were the first to be liquid filled and fireproofed internally to meet building codes. The Core-Ten beams which would usually be covered in concrete were purposefully left exposed to showcase the anchor tenant, United States Steel's new product. The tower stands as the main symbol of Pittsburgh and showcases the material that brought the city to its pinnacle. Completed in 1971, the tower rose as the city rose during its greatest decade.

PPG Place and Fifth Avenue Place

Two buildings that represent Pittsburgh in the 1980's stand just blocks from each other. Innovative designs representative of the city's desire to remove the stigma of smog and industry. PPG Place showcases its anchor tenants product, Solarban windows made by one of Pittsburgh's founding companies, PPG. Over 19,000 glass plates of their environmentally conscious product cover the six buildings that make up the complex. The most unique structure in the city, the towers draw inspiration from the gothic structures while blending in modern methods. PPG Place hosts holiday events and is known as the crown jewel of  the Pittsburgh skyline. The countless number of sharp lines and shapes makes for amazing contrast and having six buildings of various sizes allows for various viewpoints. 

Fifth Avenue place came to be in the late 1980's and stands out because of its granite facade and unique shape. The building takes on the role of origami as it folds and changes shape on its way upward. The spire at the top mimics what the original height of the building was intended to be, but officials decided it would be better to keep it lower to blend in with the skyline, arguably the best skyline in the country.

BNY Mellon Center

Next door to the tallest building in the city sits the second tallest building, BNY Mellon Center. Originally home to Pittsburgh based Mellon Bank, it has since changed names since a merger with Bank of New York. The building is 55 stories tall and allows for unique pictures form all angles with its eight sided structure and smaller structures at the base. BNY Mellon has expanded, moving across the street and exemplifying Pittsburgh's devotion to modern architecture.

PNC Plaza and One Oxford Centre

PNC Plaza consists of three buildings (soon to be four) ranging in construction from the 1970's to still under construction. The three currently occupied buildings are in a section of downtown that has several skyscrapers clustered together. One PNC Plaza contains the largest green wall in the country and its concrete construction is a direct contrast to the glass structures of Two and Three PNC Plaza. Two Pnc Plaza's hexagonal shape and two merged towers make for interesting reflections at the point of contact between the towers.

One Oxford Centre is somewhat similar to Two Pnc Plaza and is composed of four adjoined towers. The shape was used to maximize the amount of corner offices. In the pictures below it is seen from the under construction PNC Tower which when completed will be the greenest skyscraper in the country. The completed tower will be a beacon of Pittsburgh's resilience and innovative future.