Gulf Tower

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Gulf Tower
Gulf Tower, from US Steel Tower
Information
Location	435 Seventh Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Status	Complete
Groundbreaking	1930
Constructed	1932
Use	Office
Height
Roof	582 ft (177 m)
Technical details
Floor count	44
Floor area	409,320 sq ft (38,027 m2)
Elevator count	15
Cost	$10.05 million
Companies
Architect	Trowbridge & Livingston with E. P. Mellon
Structural Engineer	McClintic-Marshall Construction Company
Contractor	Mellon-Stuart
Developer	Andrew W. Mellon

Gulf Tower is one of the major distinctive and recognizable features of Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. 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 582 feet (177 m) above Downtown Pittsburgh. Its address is 707 Grant Street and it is part of the Grant Street Power Strip in Pittsburgh. The crown of the skyscraper is modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in the style of a step pyramid.

On June 17th, 1974 - The Weather Underground Organization planted a bomb in the lobby to protest Gulf Oil's actions in Angola, Vietnam, and elsewhere.

[edit] Lighting

Prior to the late 1970s, the entire multistory "step-pyramid/mausoleum" structure at the top of the building was neon-illuminated, changing colors based on barometric pressure to provide a weather forecast that could be seen for many miles.

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.[1]

[edit] References

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (July 2008)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)

• Toker, Franklin (2007). Buildings of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh: Chicago: Society of Architectural Historians; Santa Fe: Center for American Places ; Charlottesville: In association with the University of Virginia Press. ISBN 0-8139-2650-5. 

[edit] External links

• Gulf Tower Homepage
• Gulf Tower at Emporis.com
• Gulf Tower description on the City of Pittsburgh tour page

Preceded by Grant Building	Tallest Building in Pittsburgh 1932—1970 177m	Succeeded by U.S. Steel Tower
Preceded by Philadelphia City Hall	Tallest Building in Pennsylvania 1932—1970 177m	Succeeded by U.S. Steel Tower
Preceded by University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning	Pittsburgh Skyscrapers by Height 582 feet (177 m) 44 floors	Succeeded by Oxford Centre
Preceded by Grant Building	Pittsburgh Skyscrapers by Year of Completion 1932	Succeeded by University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning

Coordinates: 40°26′33″N 79°59′43″W / 40.4425°N 79.99528°W / 40.4425; -79.99528