Pittsburgh’s most beautiful skyscraper is certainly PPG Place. The postmodern work of renowned architect Philip Johnson resembles a glass castle tower that rises to 193 metres. Although originally the Pittsburgh Plate Glass headquarters was not intended to be a neo-Gothic skyscraper at all, over time the design evolved into a soaring tower with pinnacles. Johnson was inspired by the towers of the English Parliament and the soaring forms of a local university building. It is the first neo-Gothic-postmodern skyscraper lined entirely with reflective glass manufactured by PPG.
In the 1890s, Pittsburgh Plate Glass moved its headquarters directly to industrial Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company, which manufactured various types of glass, grew quite rapidly, and by the 1980s the old headquarters proved too small for the glass empire’s headquarters. Interestingly, plans for a large new office building intertwined with the city’s brownfield redevelopment programme. Pittsburgh, by the way, barely managed to avoid the fate of other ‘Rust Belt’ cities, thanks to a proper conversion to services and offices.
From modernism to gothic
The task of designing a corporate skyscraper in the city centre was commissioned to the studio of Philip Johnson and John Burgee. The former architect is known for his innovative approach to postmodern buildings lined with reflective glass. Johnson’s other amazing project is the Crystal Cathedral in California, which you can read about HERE.
Johnson started the project with a variety of wall shapes, … and ended up with a gothic tower. The soaring pinnacles and turrets are a reference to the neo-Gothic icons of England and the United States. Interestingly, in addition to the English Parliament, Johnson was also inspired by a local neo-Romanesque courthouse designed by Henry H. Richardson.
In a sense, PPG Place evolved into the ‘modern Woolworth Building‘, a model of the neo-Gothic skyscraper. The architect designed a total of six buildings: one skyscraper, one low-rise wing with a walkway and four minor service buildings. Interestingly, the second tallest building in the complex rises only 14 storeys high.
It is also worth mentioning that during the preparatory work, researchers found 18th-century English royal gardens on the plot. What’s more, the British Fort Pitt still stood there in the 18th century, protecting the colonisers from the indigenous population. Thousands of artefacts of European and indigenous origin were found at the site.
Glass castle
The steel frame was lined with reflective Solarban 550 glass made by PPG. Silver glass proved to be a great material due to its ductility and energy-saving properties. The mirrored panels reflect sunlight, which helps dissipate heat from the building. In turn, in winter, the heat reflects off the glass and insulates. What’s more, its optimum transparency helps to reduce lighting costs. There are 19,750 such panels in total.
Occupying as much as 22,000 square metres of space in downtown Pittsburgh, the complex fits well into the business fabric. What’s more, the city’s residents have access to restaurants, shops and a winter garden. The buildings are linked by a public plaza with a pink obelisk and a fountain. In winter, the square turns into an ice rink and a Christmas tree is set up next to it.
Since its opening in 1984, the complex has been running smoothly and is appreciated by the residents. The offices are almost always full and the business premises and the square are a frequent destination for tourists and residents. Johnson and Burgee have created a unique post-modern complex evocative of the Gothic towers, which has blended well with modern realities. It is also a quiet tribute to the geniuses of the American Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque era. In the 1980s, Philip Johnson and John Burgee showed America how to build postmodern skyscrapers.
Source: Positively Pittsburgh
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