Commonwealth Building (Pittsburgh)
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox building
|name = Commonwealth Building
|image = Commonweath Bank 4th Av to Wood St jeh.jpg
|image_size = 220
|caption = Fourth Avenue
|location = 316 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|coordinates = {{coord|40|26|21|N|80|00|03|W|display=inline,title}}
|start_date =
|completion_date = 1906
|opening =
|building_type =
|roof = {{convert|300|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}
|top_floor =
|floor_count = 21
|elevator_count =
|cost =
|floor_area = {{convert|80000|ft2|m2|0|abbr=on}}
|architect = Frederick J. Osterling
|structural_engineer=
|main_contractor =
|developer =
|owner =
|management =
}}
The Commonwealth Building, originally known as the Commonwealth Trust Bank, is a {{convert|300|ft|m}} tall skyscraper in Pittsburgh. It was completed in 1906 and has 21 floors. It is tied with The Carlyle and Washington Plaza for 26th tallest building in the city.
History
The building was built in 1906 for the Commonwealth Trust Company, with construction underway by June 1906.{{Cite news|date=June 24, 1906|title=SKYSCRAPERS PROGRESSING|work=The Pittsburgh Sunday Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24581742/|access-date=May 7, 2020}} Work was briefly halted on August 3, 1906 when workers went on strike, over wages of $1.75 a day, compared to union workers on the nearby Union National Bank Building, who were earning $2.00 a day.{{Cite news|date=August 3, 1906|title=LABORERS WANT MORE PAY|work=The Pittsburg Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50479764/|access-date=May 7, 2020}} By August 5, 1906 the dispute had been settled and the building's framework had been completed up to the twelfth floor.{{Cite news|date=August 5, 1906|title=Building Operations In July Show Well|work=The Pittsburgh Sunday Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50479935/|access-date=May 7, 2020}}{{Cite news|date=August 5, 1906|title=Victory for Union Men|work=The Pittsburg Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50479843/|access-date=May 7, 2020}} The building was completed in 1907, with the Commonwealth Trust Company moving in by April 1, vacating their previous residence at 327-329 Fourth Avenue.{{Cite news|date=August 30, 1906|title=The fine large quarters...|work=The Pittsburg Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50480581/|access-date=May 7, 2020}}{{Cite news|date=February 28, 1907|title=Commonwealth Trust Co.|work=The Pittsburg Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50480647/|access-date=May 7, 2020}} The building included five Plunger-type elevators, built by the Otis Elevator Company to service the structure's twenty floors.{{Cite news|date=November 13, 1906|title=The elevators,...|work=The Pittsburg Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50480762/|access-date=May 7, 2020}}
On November 1, 1927, Andrew J Kelley Jr, then president of the Commonwealth Trust Company and the Commonwealth Real Estate Company, died suddenly in his office in the Commonwealth Building.{{Cite news|date=November 1, 1927|title=A.J. Kelly JR., Dies In Office|work=The Pittsburgh Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11492697/obit-kellyaj-1-nov-1927/|access-date=May 8, 2020}} The building also served as the offices for the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, and later the United Steelworkers.{{Cite news|date=December 3, 1956|title=Good Enough for USSteel|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50531231/|access-date=May 8, 2020}}{{Cite web|title=United Steelworkers of America Historical Marker|url=https://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-246|website=ExplorePAhistory.com|access-date=May 8, 2020}} On June 1, 1954, first assistant county solicitor Edward G. Bothwell was shot three times and critically wounded by George E Linn in his office on the fourth floor of the Commonwealth Building, after losing a 10-year court case previously.{{Cite news|date=June 2, 1954|title=Wounded Lawyer in Life Fight|work=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50530089/|access-date=May 8, 2020}}
In January 2019, it was announced that the then long-vacant building would be renovated into an apartment complex featuring 150 apartments and ground level retail.{{Cite news|last=O'Toole|first=Bill|date=January 18, 2019|title=Long-vacant Commonwealth Building Downtown will become apartment complex|work=NEXT Pittsburgh|url=https://www.nextpittsburgh.com/city-design/long-vacant-commonwealth-building-will-become-apartment-complex-downtown/|access-date=May 8, 2020}}
See also
References
{{Commons category|Commonwealth Building (Pittsburgh)}}
- [http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=18991 Skyscraperpage]
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070315172351/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=commonwealthbuilding-pittsburgh-pa-usa Emporis]}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before=Washington Plaza
| title=Pittsburgh Skyscrapers by Height
| years=300 feet (91 m)
21 floors
| after=Four Gateway Center
}}
{{succession box
| before=The Carlyle
| title=Pittsburgh Skyscrapers by Year of Completion
| years=1906
| after=Oliver Building
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Pittsburgh}}