The Pittsburgh Terminal Properties building is an historic structure on
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
’s South Side, across the river from Downtown. The building was the Pittsburgh Terminal Warehouse and Transfer Company, located in the
South Side Flats
The South Side Flats is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's South Side area. It is located just south of the Monongahela River. The neighborhood has one of the City of Pittsburgh's largest concentrations of 19th-century homes, which ha ...
neighborhood of
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. This
warehouse
A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the outskirts of cities ...
complex was designed by
Charles Bickel and was designed in 1898, and built from 1904 to 1906. The structure was listed in the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
on May 8, 2013.
[
]
History
The facility was conceived as a central point of connection between road, river, and rail transport. The River and Railroad Terminal Company was incorporated February 8, 1898 to begin the project. Major changes needed to be made to the planned area for the buildings, requiring new city ordinances. Ordinances to change the streets and clear area for building were approved on November 6, 1903. An additional ordinance was required to create the bridge over Cabot Way that holds the road (Terminal Way) which runs between the two major buildings.
Contractual agreements were created with the railroads servicing the area in early 1904. They show the intended use and how interconnection with the railroad lines would work and which parties were responsible for the various costs. Construction of the buildings began on July 1, 1904, and was finally completed on May 31, 1906. The total cost of construction was approximately $1.5 million.
The building was a prominent piece of early 1900s Pittsburgh architecture. It was the subject of different art works and was featured on post cards. One of the new tenants of the building, City Center Self Storage, has a collection of these historical postcards on display in their office.
During World War II, the 6th floor of the building was used to store ammunition and ordinance for the United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department (and occasionally War Office in the early years), was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army, ...
.
The facility was in active use for warehouse and transportation until 1963. Marketing brochures from that time promote 868,000 square feet of office and warehouse space available and the availability of a teletype center.
In 2006, the building was renamed River Walk Corporate Centre. Upper floors of the West Building have largely been converted into modern office space. Tenants include the Green Building Alliance, and Venture Outdoors. East Building tenants include City Center Self Storage, ProFromGo Internet Marketing, and Harry Giglio Photography.
On February 5, 2013, Pennsylvania's Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved Pittsburgh Terminal Properties application for historic status in a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2016, the buildings were bought b
McKnight Realty Partners
and is currently being converted into The Highline, a creative and chic office complex with retail on the first floor. It will also include a 521 space parking garage, bike storage, a public fitness center, and green space, which can be used for events.
References
External links
*
*
*
*
*
*
{{National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Office buildings in Pittsburgh
Commercial buildings completed in 1906
Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Industrial buildings completed in 1906
1906 establishments in Pennsylvania
Industrial buildings and structures in Pittsburgh