User:Nfazio21

Introduction:

Pittsburgh is known for many things, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Heinz Ketchup, the once booming but now faded steel industry, the confluence of three mighty rivers, and its abundance of bridges. However, people fail to realize that Pittsburgh is also home to many beautiful buildings, monuments, and other structures that can easily be considered structural art. Out of all the buildings and structures in Pittsburgh, the PPG Place stands out as a perfect example of structural art because of its extremely efficient design, its beautiful aesthetics and un-matched elegance, and its beneficial social and economic impact on the city of Pittsburgh.

Structural Description:

Height (roof): 545 ft. Height (spire):  635 ft. Completed:  April 11, 1984 Façade Material: glass Façade System: curtain wall Floor Count: 40 Structural Engineer: Leslie E. Robertson & Associates Architects: Philip Johnson, John Burgee Cost: $200,000,000

Qualifications as Structural Art:

The PPG Place was named after the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company and was completed on April 11, 1984 by architects Phillip Johnson and John Burgee. The structural engineer for the project was Leslie E. Robertson & Associates. The large building complex is centered around a tower that reaches 40 stories (635 ft) in height and also includes five smaller satellite buildings covering three city blocks. The complex also features 231 gothic spires that are lit up at night and add to the buildings already stellar visuals. Fittingly, the building utilizes reflective glass and white aluminum framing as its main materials, which allows the building to be both light in weight and economically feasible. This glass curtain wall construction method has many advantages. This curtain wall actually does not carry any of the dead load weight from the building other than its own dead load weight. Also, the curtain wall transfers horizontal wind forces to the main structures through the building’s columns. In addition, the glass allows the building to be extremely energy efficient, as it reflects heat in the summer, and in the winter heat is contained in the building as in a greenhouse. Also, the building recycles the heat generated by the computers and other equipment used throughout the building. Over the years, PPG Place has become the very center for activity in downtown Pittsburgh. In the winter, visitors can come to the plaza and ice skate in the courtyard, enjoy the beautiful Christmas tree, or relax in the wintergarden (an all glass plant-filled garden environment). In the warmer months, the plaza is transformed into a nice place to have a seat, eat lunch, and enjoy the 44-foot rose granite obelisk, which is surrounded by a beautiful water display. Also, the complex has over 30 retail and dining facilities to go along with several floors of office space, which benefit the city both socially and economically. All together, the structure cost $200,000,000 to build. Pittsburgh, PA is a beautiful city and has a breathtaking skyline, which features the PPG Place as its main attraction. The building is very unique and visually striking. When designing the building, Johnson used modern construction methods and materials to build a structure that resembled an old gothic-style cathedral. In that way, the contrasting materials and style of the building add to its unique and visual appeal. In fact, the building is modeled after the Houses of Parliament in London, the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh, and the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh, all of which utilize the gothic style. Also, the use of the high tech reflective glass does a tremendous job of reflecting the beautiful rivers, mountains, bridges, and trees that surround the city and add to its beauty and character. The 231 intricately crafted gothic spires are lit up at night, which makes the building even more aesthetically attractive and really makes it stand out among the other buildings in the city. Pittsburgh is a beautiful city with many great buildings, bridges, and other structures. However, the one structure in the city that encompasses the ideas of structural art is the PPG Place. With its unmatched efficiency, aesthetic beauty, and its everlasting social impact on the city, the PPG place can truly be thought of as one of Pittsburgh’s main attractions.

Link to the wikipedia page on structural art: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_art

Citations: http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/ppg/index.htm http://www.ppgplace.com/building http://www.emporis.com/building/one-ppg-place-pittsburgh-pa-usa