US Steel Tower
Pittsburgh, USA

HEIGHT: 256m/841 feet
FLOORS: 64 floors
COMPLETION: 1970
ARCHITECT: Harrison, Abramovitz & Abbe

In its initial planning stages, the U.S. Steel Corporation considered building the world's tallest building. Once completed, it was the world's tallest building outside of New York and Chicago.
The exterior load-supporting structure and the skin are separate and mould the character of the facade. The steel columns stand out against the set-back curtain wall and accentuate the verticals, giving the facade a 3-dimensional quality. The materialisation of the external load-bearing structure is quite strriking: for the first time, the steel is exposed. This was made possible with a novel method - after performing fireproof tests - of constructing the columns. The hollow steel columns, which are positioned approximately 90cm in front of the facade, were filled with a water-based solution containing antifreeze and anti-corrosion additives. Apart from its originality, this method saved the client about $1 million.

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/ROT/usx.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/596/4usx.jpg

http://www.getting-to-the-point.com/graphics/photos/economy_1.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/ROT/usx2.jpg

http://www.pittsburghskyline.com/gallery/pitt364.jpg

http://www.pittsburghskyline.com/gallery/pitt44.jpg

http://www.pittsburghskyline.com/gallery/pitt395.jpg

Last three pics are from http://www.pittsburghskyline.com/

it is very imposing .. 6.5/10 . . . i keep forgetting it has a triangle shape. . and i heard somewhere that they planned back in the day to make this the world's tallest??

6.5/10. Nothing special.

Originally posted by caledon1981
it is very imposing .. 6.5/10 . . . i keep forgetting it has a triangle shape. . and i heard somewhere that they planned back in the day to make this the world's tallest??

yeah. Around 1970 it was planned to be the worlds tallest. I wonder what happened to that?

I added some pics and info for ya there... Hope you don't mind...


I really can't think of a design that would say "Pittsburgh" more than this. It is powerful, imposing, industrial, almost "dirty" looking. It shape reflects the triagular shape of the delta that DT Pittsburgh is built upon. The exposed structural steel is the perfect aestetic for a city affectionately known as the "Steel City'...

Not my favorite look for a tower, but the concept is very strong, and easy to read.

8.0/10

Quite a good triangular building, though it would look more interesting if it had more setbacks.

7/10

6.0 I don't like the fassade

A BIG GIGANTIC 10/10

i love this tower, one of my top 5 in the world. the steel work is amazing and the overall building is just so beautifully black. amazing, amazing, amazing. my only complaint is that i wish it were in my city, but it suits pittsburgh to a tee and is very much at home in "steel city"

8.5/10

Looks powerful and black suits it too. It has a triangular floorplan, which scores in my book..better than a predictable box.

Originally posted by Jasonhouse
I added some pics and info for ya there... Hope you don't mind...
8.0/10

Nah, I don't mind. Glad you added more. I couldn't find many on Google. And It still wont allow me to link images from sc.com

i dont like the colour... rest is good
8/10

Looks good up close. 7/10 Does it have a helipad?

Not great. 6.5/10.

Its interesting design and sleekness has the potential to appeal to people but I'm not getting anything.

5/10

Unusual and I like the windows 8/10

The steelwork is tremendous, as well as it's dominant Pittsburgh footprint! 7.

This tower kicks ass! The material (core-ten steel) is allowed to surface rust, sealing the inside and giving the building it's dark color and matt texture.

The look is not appealing to everyone but I love it. There is a nice plaza and the entrance to the building is big, glassy and transparant so that the bulk appears to "hover" over it. It's very unique and a nice innovation over the typical glass-box. Perfect for Pittsburgh!:D

9/10

http://www.wqed.org/erc/pghist/photos/PHLFarch/USXtower.jpg

It screams the U.S. steel industry. In context, an apt design and perfect for the P.R. department.

8.5

That is just ugly.

4.5/10

I would give it credit for the steel exo-frame and triangular shape. Perhaps it overdoes it in terms of trying to evoke industry, but it certainly is more articulated and interesting than most of the boxy skyscrapers of that period. Still, the black color makes it look ominous and ugly. IMO it would really help this building to paint the wall surfaces a lighter color and leave the beams black. That would both better highlight the exterior frame and make the whole thing look less like Darth Vader's earth headquarters. 7/10.

Doesn't do anything for me, but i can see how some people like it. ->5.5/10

6.5/10 - The grid effect makes the facade interesting - a bit like the John Hancock Tower in Chicago. And the trianglular shape is good, too; sets up a contrast between slab and slenderness. The straightforward, no-nonsense effect is good for Pittsburgh, as several posters have pointed out.
But that flat top kills the height - the Flatiron building in NYC, which this one reminds me of just a little, can get away with a flat top because it's small and almost delicate for a skyscraper, which this big fella definitely isn't. And the Hancock Tower can carry off the entirely black routine because it's so much taller and slimmer. But black on black does make this building, as broad and masive as it is, look, to quote SubDude, like Darth Vader's earth headquarters.
Enzo, thanks for describing the lobby - wouldn't mind seeing a picture of that...and you're right, it is more interesting than your typical glass box.
You folks who've posted here have made a number of good points - thanks!

ugly!4.5

hmm..the pics are not flattering for this scraper but upon a closer
look this building seems more in line with a brutalist style except it's done in steel!...the triangular shape is unique as well...fits the Steel City...overall a 7.5/10.

Looking at one of those pictures...do they do the weather on the Gulf Building again? I thought that they had stopped doing that.

Great building, it really is. Be sure to go to the restaurant on the top two floors. It has a great view.

I love the Pittsburgh skyline. This building is a powerful,
menacing, aggressive presence. It seems to intimidate the
other high rises. I had no idea the developers wanted to
make it the tallest in the world. I'm picturing how that would
have affected the skyline.

7/10 not bad

Oh, come now...it's an awesome building!

Too dark
7/10

Kick ass building. 8/10

Very dominating, the windows are unique, and to me the design is perfect for Pittsburgh.

NP: Alan Parsons Project - What Goes Up

i like the triangular shape of the building. but not so much on the facade, its ok, but not a particular fav.it also has some height. 7

7/10

It fits US Steel perfectly.

Mhhh. I like the color, because I like black towers, but the shape is not so good. 8.5/10

sometimes, i hate it when buildings look smaller than they really are due to the layouting of its facade.
This building is one example. i gave it a 6.5!

I like this building because i like it's steelwork and the shape on the sides are also cool.
8.0/10

Somehow reminds me of the Tour Montparnasse in Paris, I like it. 9/10. Very cool structure.

8/10 There are more interesting buildings in the Pittsburgh skyline, but I do like how this building looks very intimidating, ominous and menacing. It had a number of building innovations as well. Certainly one of the best 1970's skyscrapers.

Serious workingplace, I like it.

It's unique. I can't think of anything else that looks like. It's also hard to judge it's age, where as some buildings you can tell right away what era it was built in. I guess that's due to it's unique facade. I like it. 7/10

3/10
He is shady and dismal, it stinks out...

This massive structure is very imposing... Especially the black facade too..

8/10

WOW. 9.5/10 Brutalist and Dark. Fantabulous! It evokes POWER.
Totally deserving to house a company called US Steel!!! :eek:

ugly,ugly,ugly-bad for Pittsburgh


Bank One,Indianapolis

who was the architect? B.Mussolini? :puke:

Amazing, it's so dark, dirty (in a good way), powerful; I love it!

7/10

8

I'am sure its nice in real life

c'mon ...
Nothing special...5/10

7

This has actually really grown on me. And i forgot to vote last time i visted, so i can happily give it an

8

Quite tall and ugly, but it looks massive like the MetLife Bldg in NYC. 6/10

5.5/10

9/10 Good design. :)

Very ugly!
3 or less

6/10


not my type

6.5/10

5/10
Ugly looking building. The shape is okay the rest is bad.

7/10

The shape is cool. But the facade is just UGLY! :down: 4/10

7.5 I like the shape but the colour is ugly.

7.5/10

the design is fine, but it kind of outdated
5.5/10

The structure is original and different for 1970. I do not like the materials and the color.

7,5/10

Dull cold fassade
The shape is noce but not some thing I like at all sorry

7

Great design for the 70's, like the lattice work on the outside. Big and tall too and looks imposing.

im amazed that this thing actually contains that much office space. but still, it's not really any better than one liberty. but it really got the city's-tallest look.

7.5 (im never really for black boxes, except sears)

8/10

6/10

A decent tower. It is unique, but it not very good. The triangular shape is nice, and the exposed steel and other architectural details are nice, but the color does not work well, not because its black but because its not black enough, and the windows work against that. Poor choice by the architect, and a really cliched (and I dont say that just because its accessible) statement is made.

Isn't it one of the world largest buildings floor space wise?

6/10 -- imposing and fits Pittsburgh

4.5/10 - Big jail

Sensational! Who knew they could build a skyscraper out of CRATES? 3/10... what an eyesore.

don't like the color, but it's ok! 6

8....it is unique I kinda like it.

Well I like it's color scheme but I find this building kind of anoying to look at. And the way the windows are and art deco kind of irritates me but I think I would like it a whole lot better if it were taller and I kind of like this building. 6/10

I like the name - "US Steel Tower" - it sounds cool.

The tower itself ... well, it's very dark and imposing, not a very 'friendly' looking building. And maybe looking a bit dated now.

Not bad though. I give it 7.5/10

8.5

Has presence and the color adds to that. Not every bldg should have happy colors so people can pick flowers and dance around merrily at the base. This scraper is all business and that is to be respected.

weird but i like it at the same time... 7,5

very nice 8/10

Nasty 4/10

I don't like it. 5/10

8.

6.0 I don't like the steel on the facade.

Nothing special, 6/10

7.5/10

Looks like its name. But the design is cool and captures the spirit of Pittsburgh. I give it a 7.5/10. :okay:

Nice design, 8

7/10

9/10...its massive, its black, its GREAAAT

Very Unusual 7

6.5 from me, looks ordianary, but I will vote 7, because of Pittsburg need some good news.

Looks great from the street, not so great on the skyline. I do like the thought that went into it, though. I wish the windows worked a little better.

7.5/10

Not bad for a rusted skyscraper ^^
I think the goal of giving an identity to the building is reached, without any problem.
This being said, it doesn't look tall at all. Because of the way the storeys are grouped by 3, so it looks like 30 storeys and not 60+, and because it just ends abruptly at the top whereas a nice steel crown would have been perfect for this.
5.

^^ the structure is VERY tall when your driving into downtown from either I-376 or I-279 or I-579. Having seen it open up the skyline it is quite striking. The structure is taller then ANY skyscraper in Florida the 4th most populus state in the US!

Also when completed not only was it the tallest structure outside of NY or Chicago in the WORLD, but it was the TALLEST SKYSCRAPER in the world bar none, considering it did not "poke" the sky. The tower has the same dimensions on its first floor as it does on its roof, a true "scrape". When completed in 1970 it was the tallest consistent structure on Earth, by that definition I believe it is still in the top 5 in the world.

Heck anybody can put a 350 foot spire on their roof ;)

10.

hmm... 7 :)

4/10

This building is frightening.

^but in a good way.
I love it, adds diversity to a skyline, and this one is really unique
8

What an ugly building! The color is just terrible and the design looks even outdated for a 70's skyscraper

4.0/10...because of its height, otherwise it would've been a 3

8.5/10 I thought about a 6, but it grew on me.

10/10.

8/10

7/10..

4/10:sleepy:

7/10

Very "industrial" and suits the city well. 7/10.

Not keen at all. 4/10

Interesting facade. 6.5/10

certainly a great building for a steel company...

7/10

Looks very industrial.
It's interesting but not in my type.
7,5/10

Looks good up close
7/10

yeah truly steel tower..bit strange..7.5/10

I actually kind of like it... Darth Vader's earth headquarters was a good one. 7.5/10.

It's a Black Beauty, very mysterious and secretful. Exotic in a classical pulchritudinous way.

9/10

wouldnt put it in top 100 . 4/10

5/10

8!

5.5/10.

Unusual and I like the windows

9/10

I like this. It has its own style. 8.5

nice one. 7.5/10

very dark, but original facades

I love the triangular shape but the facade is what turns me off. 8/10

8/10

8/10

it has a style of its own...

Ugly and in vouge when built, today only ugly is left. 3.5 for it's height.

3,5/10

7.5/10

i like its gothic feeling, and well is not that bad for 1970. 6/10

9/10
i really like this building for having that rugged, dirty look to it. This is a great example of the city of Pittsburgh, the "Steel City." The architect had Pittsburgh in mind when he was designing it, and he added a great touch by inserting steel columns on the exterior. its a very imposing structure, that possesses a type of eerie feel to it.

If Pittsburgh could be a building, this would be it. 9.0/10

6.5/10

it looks so much shorter than it is, looks like a 400 footer, not a 841 footer. That said, its nice. 7.5/10

It's tall, strong but i don't like its design.7/10

Not beautiful in all angles. 6/10

7/10

7.5/10 - Not really my style, but looks great at night it seems :)

in keeping with it's surroundings and pittsburg's industrial heritage. 7.5

7.5/10 like the form but the appearance is uninving

Original by its conception but fairly ok by it's realisation: the colour tends to be brownish, the facade looks quite ugly and it's not that impressive (not high enough).

7/10 anyways, because it's better than the average European building. But I've seen far better in NA.

looks quite unique...7.5/10

7/10

it looks amazing from far away but not all that great up close. Complements PPG very well. 7.5/10

5/10 butt ugly

Massive. Powerful. This "looks" like the strongest highrise in existence. This makes up Pittsburghs entire skyline.

8.5/10

Horrible!
3/10

I like the tower. Meaty, brawny, and it fits Pittsburgh perfectly.

8/10

5/10.............

Quite well for Pittsburg 8/10

7/10

8/10

7.0/10

A steel company which has steel cladded HQ. You are what you settle in ah?

5/10

Might have been nice in 1970, but to me it is an eyesore. Sorry...

looks like a 841ft jail impressive though 6.5/10

I don't like any 70's buildings. 3.5/10

I don´t like so much this tower!!

5/10

Fairly unique and original with a powerful pressence over Pittsburgh. 8

All steel!

not my taste, it's high but the facade is terrible 7/10

7.5/10 nice

Very impossing, very cool, very tall. Love the rugged steel facade. It also doesn't look like a traingle from most angles. 9/10

8/10

3/10

It looks like a discarded, rusting piece of metal block.

Shouldn't they have chosen a shiny, silvery exterior to give the building a steely, high tech look?! After all, it's US Steel Tower, for christ's sake!

Its ugly! 1/10 its a pitty that its that tall. Its probably seen from everywere!

5/10 not good but not bad

7/10

8/10

Very imposing and its no surprise about the choice of exterior. 7/10

6.5/10

I dont like it, but its quite impressive

though not a "beautiful" building... I do think it's one of the better towers from its time period (1970), features a lot of architectural innovations, and is a massive (2.3 million sq. ft.) and dominating tower

http://i.pbase.com/g4/86/571686/2/61053969.100_6067.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/g3/86/571686/2/54261379.100_3673.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/g4/86/571686/2/61058854.100_6279.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/g3/86/571686/2/53714323.100_3535.jpg

http://i.pbase.com/v3/86/571686/2/51805104.100_2767.jpg

7/10

Retarded fools.......ever heard of contrast? :lol: It creates an imposing contrast against the skyline....very much like the John Hancock & Sears Tower in Chicago....... :tongue3:

Too compact tower 5.5/10

6.5/10.

7/10

8. nice.

too wide
7.5/10

10/10 for being awsome

I simply can't stand this one - the color, the shape and the texture of the facade.

1 / 10

0 / 10

0 /10

If it's any comfort Pittsburgh, Paris has recently built a similar block.

I think its a great building.. Anyone who's been to Pittsburgh knows that you don't see downtown until you're pretty much right there. This building just looks massive at that point.

I think this is probably one of the most 'Manliest' buildings that exist. I think that fact also makes some overlook it's beauty.

9.

Hans Gruber and David thomas are the same person!

Yack! 0 / 10 from me too.

can't think of anything good to say about this building.

0 / 10

I don't like it...:(

It is a very ominous building when seen in person, and it doesn't need a spire to attain it's height title. When viewing this structure from the 1100ft elev. Mt. Washinton, you are still looking up at it. 7/10

5.5/10 don't really like it that much to be honest.

looks so dark & gloom
ugly overall
4/10

6/10

3/10

interesting windows but.... 4.5/10

It looks so dirty, I will give it a 3 out of 10.

beauty tower

9/10.

7 - kinda ugly.

I hate this tower....4/10

i am not impressed, looks heavy 6/10

Certainly isn't pretty looking..

7/10

http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/83919012.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/80486364.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/deadwing/image/84285010.jpg

not a very nice looking building. but, it does scream pittsburgh at you, looks more dirty steel type. 5.0

I would give it credit for the steel exo-frame and triangular shape. Perhaps it overdoes it in terms of trying to evoke industry, but it certainly is more articulated and interesting than most of the boxy skyscrapers of that period. Still, the black color makes it look ominous and ugly. IMO it would really help this building to paint the wall surfaces a lighter color and leave the beams black. That would both better highlight the exterior frame and make the whole thing look less like Darth Vader's earth headquarters. 7/10.

Damn...fantastic post. My sentiments and assessments exactly. It's too bad some people get banned.

I agree: 7

6...

4/10

7/10

It's a big mountain, and I love it!

8.5/10

I don't like it 4/10

5,5/10

3.5/10

2/10

Ita a pretty ugly building, to plain. 5/10

ugly 3/10

It's a little bit boring, but nice. 6,5/10

6.5

4/10

Looks good for the skyline, actually- 7/10

8,5/10

Ugly building.

4/10 A building like this is an argument against building tall.

4/10 nothing special

I really like the look of the building although it is like a wall

8.5/10

:nuts:, 7/10, I'd give it 1 more point if it's a prison, but I don't know, how to express myself.

Edit: Does it become broader while you see up?

nice building but it seems old design. 7/10 IMO

Hmmm... Kind of ominous looking, but it does leave quite an impression. Gritty and tough, kind of like the City of Steel itself. 7.5/10

1/10. The, old, US Steel Tower in Pittsburgh.....

" It has a Face that only a Mother could love! " - old saying by unknown author

6/10 nothing special

5/10

I'm sorry, I don't like it.

5/10

6.5/10

7,ok,plain looking

I love Pittsburgh!
And its skyline too!!

This building is not my favorite in Pittsburgh, but I liked! It's kind of scary!!!

In the 70's this was the tallest building in United States outside NYC and Chicago!!
It's very imponent!

8.5/10

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2149/2160077435_29cf9ff5b5_b.jpg

.

^Ugly dome thing.

I love love love love love this tower. This is one the few boxes that deserves a ten and may be the best American skyscraper not in Chicago or New York.

Nice 8/10

wonderful shot!!

too heavy looking

5/10

dont like it. 5

6/10

6/10:)

9 / 10

in any other city 4, but for Pittsburgh 8.

6/10

3.

8,5/10

7/10

7/10