Architecture is often part of a company’s branding, and in the case of Pittsburgh’s tallest building, that was the original intent.

The US Steel Building (now the UPMC Building) was built by the US Steel Company in 1970 and dedicated in 1971. It is 64 stories (841 feet) tall and was designed by architecture firm Harrison & Abramovitz [1].

Before continuing, let’s get the names straight. Originally, the skyscraper was called the US Steel Building, and that’s how I’m going to refer to it. Its name was changed to USX Tower in the 1980s. In the early 2000s it was changed to US Steel Tower. The building is currently known as the UPMC Building.

With all that name changing, the building has seemingly changed identities often, but to me it remains the US Steel Building. It is a three-sided triangular building having an indentation at each corner. Its triangular shape matches the shape of downtown Pittsburgh--think of the Point where the three rivers meet. For over 30 years, the top floor was home to the Top of the Triangle, a restaurant that was the highest restaurant in Pittsburgh until it was closed in 2001.

When driving or walking by the tower, you immediately notice one of its prominent features--the exterior steel columns supporting the structure. When I see those structural elements, I think of the strength of steel, and it reminds me why this building’s design was appropriate for the US Steel Company. The entire building appears to be a testament to the strength of steel, and indeed it was meant to be a symbol of the strength of the steel company housed inside.

The 18 steel columns were made from US Steel’s new product at the time, Cor-ten steel, and the building was intended by US Steel to be essentially a huge demonstration of the product. Cor-ten steel is now a common construction material, and one of its features is the way it weathers. The surface of Cor-ten oxidizes in the weather and forms a dark brown coating over the steel. The coating protects the steel from deeper weathering and eliminates the need for cleaning, painting, or other means of preventing rust [2].

The largest tenant currently in the Steel Building is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). As a result, the building is currently called the UPMC Building--and huge signs at the top of the building declare that title--but the US Steel Building remains a symbol of Pittsburgh’s steel town past. As the city’s tallest building, it serves as a reminder of where the city came from. May its strength and endurance guide Pittsburgh into its future as well.

Sources

1 https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/top-lists/u-s-steel-tower-visitors-guide/

2 http://www.fieldtripper.com/c/UVDCp-bPkLA/u-s-steel-tower