The History of Pittsburgh’s Park Building

Since its founding in 1758, Pittsburgh has grown to be a major hub of business, industrial innovation, and culture, but one aspect that may occasionally go overlooked is the city’s beautiful and varied architecture.

With everything from Gothic Revival buildings to postmodern skyscrapers and even Frank Lloyd Wright creations in the area, Pittsburgh has a rich tradition of adding impressive and imposing structures to the cityscape. One of the jewels of downtown is the famed Park Building, a Beaux-Arts structure erected in the late 1890s. Let’s take a look at this storied building and its impressive history.

Making a Mark on Downtown

At the end of the 19^th century, as building materials improved, American cities grew, and architects engaged in greater experimentation, skyscrapers began to emerge as a major architectural form. And while these early skyscrapers are dwarfed by their modern counterparts, at the time they stood tall, towering over much more modest constructions.

Pittsburgh’s first two skyscrapers were fittingly enough named for the major steel magnates that had helped the area to flourish, Andrew Carnegie and David and William Park. While the Carnegie Building, erected in 1893, was demolished in 1952, the Park Building, erected in 1896, still stands strong today.

William and David Park’s Background

The Black Diamond Steel Works was owned and operated by James Park until his death, at which point it passed to his sons David and William. The steel works focused on the production of crucible steel, which is a high-strength grade of steel that is created with the use of enormous steam hammers.

The steel produced by the facility was used for a variety of common and specialty products of the time, including scissors, utensils, piano wire, firebox plates for train engines, milling tools, and more. Eventually, in 1900, the Parks merged their company with others in the industry to create Crucible Steel, later Crucible Industries. This company continued to operate until filing for bankruptcy and going defunct in 2025.

Creation of the Park Building

Wanting a base of operations for Black Diamond Steel Works, William and David Park began to make preparations. Desiring an imposing structure in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, they chose one of the most trafficked street corners to place their building, near a prominent bank and a retail store.

The brothers then enlisted the services of architect George B. Post, a notable New York native who had designed numerous buildings in his hometown, as well as some of the temporary structures at the celebrated 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

Post designed the Park Building in the Beaux-Arts style, an architectural specialty he was known for, constructing the exterior out of brick. The building incorporated columns, varied cornices and flourishes, and figures of Greek Titan Atlas, called telamones, along its exterior’s upper cornice. For the interior, the building featured a circular elevator lobby with six elevator shafts, a significant design element for the time.

The ornamentation of the Park Building adhered to the stylistic influences of New York’s early skyscrapers, which prized decorative elements alongside utility. The other prominent city for skyscrapers at the time, Chicago, favored a more streamlined approach that focused more heavily on functionality and eschewed significant ornamentation.

At 210 feet and 15 stories, the Park Building exceeded the height of the Carnegie Building of a few years prior and a block away, which included 14 stories. Notably, at the time of its creation, the Park Building stood as only the fourth steel-skeleton skyscraper in the city. The estate of the Park family sold the building in 1958, and modernizations have since taken place to update some elements.

Changes to the Park Building and the City

Over the years, many alterations have been made to the Park Building that have allowed it to retain some of its classic features while updating others to more modern sensibilities.

For instance, windows on the building originally included iron scrollwork along with retractable awnings, as seen in some period photographs. The rear side of the building also was once open to permit light into the interior court area, but this was later altered to allow for additional spaces for rentals.

Despite these changes, one of the architectural cornerstones of the Park Building remains undisturbed – the 30 Atlas adornments found at the top of the building who “hold up” the roof much like the sky of the Greek myth. In fact, this element has been called “the most beautiful cornice east of the Mississippi,” so it’s no surprise the building is a regular stopping point for downtown tours.

And while the late 19^th century and early 20^th century was the golden age of initial skyscraper development, time has marched on with new designs and taller structures taking the place of many older ones. Today, only the Park Building remains of the 19^th century skyscrapers that once populated downtown Pittsburgh.

The Park Building Today

Having endured throughout the decades, and now well into its second century, the Park Building stands as a treasured piece of Pittsburgh history and architecture. Now owned by E.V. Bishoff Company, the building is still in operation as commercial real estate and provides suites ranging from 400 to 13,000 square feet. The full building contains 195,000 square feet.

Some of the prominent elements and amenities of the modern Park Building office spaces include:

• 24-hour key card access

• 24-hour security video surveillance

• Exposed ceilings

• LED lighting

• Exterior signage

• Glass-enclosed offices

• Exposed brick

• Glass-enclosed conference rooms

• Stylish exterior rail doors

• Air conditioning

• Bicycle storage

• Nearby bus line

Along with this, companies that choose the Park Building gain access to a vibrant segment of downtown, with plenty of nearby meeting spaces, lunch spots, entertainment venues, and hotels perfect for traveling business associates. Examples include:

• Market Square

• The Speckled Egg

• Embassy Suites

• PPU Pittsburgh Playhouse

• Milkshake Factory

• Omni Hotel

• Rivers Club

• Mellon Green

• Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

And with I-376 right by its 355 Fifth Avenue address, getting to other key areas of the city is a breeze.

Be sure to check out our page on the Park Building and other downtown rental properties to get a full look at amenities, features, current promotions, and more.

Want to Rent Space in the Historic Park Building? Contact Us!

If you’d like this beautiful building to be the next home for your business or organization, reach out to the team at E.V. Bishoff Company. We look forward to discussing options!