Gulf Tower

Gulf Tower
Pittsburgh-gulf-tower-2007.jpg
Gulf Tower, from US Steel Tower
General information
Type Commercial offices
Location 707 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates
Construction started 1930
Completed 1932
Cost US$10.05 million
Height
Roof 177.4 m (582 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 44
Floor area 409,320 sq ft (38,027 m2)
Elevator count 15
Design and construction
Main contractor Mellon-Stuart
Architect Trowbridge & Livingston
E. P. Mellon
Developer Andrew W. Mellon
Structural engineer McClintic-Marshall Construction Company
References
[1][2][3]

Gulf Tower is one of the major distinctive and recognizable features of downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The tower is named for the Gulf Oil Corporation, which was one of the leading multinational oil companies of its time, consistently ranking among the largest 10 corporations in the country. In 1984, Gulf and Chevron took part in the world's largest merger to that time.

Built as the headquarters for the Gulf Oil Company, and known as the Gulf Building, the structure was designed by the firm of Trowbridge & Livingston and completed in 1932. Now called Gulf Tower, it has 44 floors and rises 177.4 m (582 ft) above Downtown Pittsburgh. The crown of the skyscraper is modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in the style of a step pyramid.

On June 13, 1974, a bomb was detonated on the 29th floor of the Gulf Tower.[4] The Weather Underground Organization took credit for the attack claiming it was in protest to Gulf Oil's actions in Angola, Vietnam, and elsewhere.

Contents

Lighting

Prior to the late 1970s, the entire multistory "step-pyramid/mausoleum" structure at the top of the building was neon-illuminated, changing colors to provide a weather forecast that could be seen for many miles.[5] This concept was developed by the building manager Edward H. Heath. He used the Gulf Oil colors to create a simplified forecast: steady blue meant colder and fair; flashing blue meant colder with precipitation; steady orange meant warmer and fair; flashing orange meant warmer with precipitation.

Subsequently, however, the weather forecasting role has been limited to the weather beacon at the pinnacle of the pyramid, which glows blue for precipitation and red for fair weather. Although the terraced sides are once again illuminated at night (by means of spotlights), the entire pyramid structure no longer changes color with the weather (the pinnacle beacon still has that function).

Since 2001, the opening of PNC Park across the Allegheny River, fans have noticed that after Pittsburgh Pirates home-runs, the "beam" light flashes in celebration. Recently it was revealed that the afternoon and evening receptionist at the lobby desk was the one responsible for this fan favorite, following the games on her cabinet radio. The slogan "Flash the beam, Regina -- that one's out of here!" has gained popularity among Pirates fans recently.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gulf Tower at Emporis
  2. ^ Gulf Tower at SkyscraperPage
  3. ^ Gulf Tower at Structurae
  4. ^ Craig Smith (March 27, 2010). "Ayers' talk kept quiet at Pitt". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_673673.html. Retrieved March 14, 2011. 
  5. ^ http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/wt/html/gulf_building_1930-1932.html
  6. ^ http://www.postgazette.com/pg/05164/520648.stm

Further reading

External links

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gulf_Tower Gulf Tower] at Wikimedia Commons

Trinity Church (61 m) (1872) · Allegheny County Courthouse (76 m) (1888) · Farmers Bank Building (105 m) (1902) · Oliver Building (106 m) (1910) · First National Bank Building (118 m) (1912) · Grant Building (148 m) (1928) · Gulf Tower (177 m) (1932) · U.S. Steel Tower (256 m) (1970)

Christ Church (60 m) (1754) · Tenth Presbyterian Church (76 m) (1856) · North American Building (81 m) (1900) · Philadelphia City Hall (167 m) (1901) · Gulf Tower (177 m) (1932) · U.S. Steel Tower (256 m) (1970) · One Liberty Place (288 m) (1987) · Comcast Center (297 m) (2008)