Category Archive: Education
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The Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
Promo spot for the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum
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Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. Keynote Address at the 2006 National Preservation Conference
PHLF News
October 31, 2006“Preservation In Pittsburgh” Keynote address of Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. at the 2006 National Preservation Conference held in Pittsburgh, PA, October 31, 2006
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Downtown is rife with stone beasts
By Bethany Hofstetter
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, July 28, 2006It’s a jungle out there. Just look up.
Hiding in plain sight on Downtown’s high-rises, lions gnash their teeth at passing cars, eagles and griffins perch above doorways, and dragons threaten to breathe fire on passers-by.
“(Architects) used these animals for decoration, maybe like a flamingo on a lawn today,” says docent Gabe Funaro, of Mt. Lebanon, who leads a city safari of these architectural creatures and gargoyles with Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation’s Downtown Dragon tour.
“It makes the building unique,” Funaro says. “People may not know what the building is, but they will remember that it is the fish building.”
Past the peaceful storefronts of Station Square, Funaro finds a fierce beast with a dog’s face guarding a fountain. The winged animal once stared down at traffic from the side of a now-demolished Liberty Avenue building, but today, its eyes focus over the reflective pool, protecting the pennies and wishes thrown into the water.
Across the Smithfield Street Bridge is the House Building, two blocks from the Mon River, where two creatures splash out of the side of the building. Called a catfish and dolphin by bystanders, the adornments have no real purpose.
Louis Martorella, owner of Buon Giorno, walks into the building every morning to open his restaurant but isn’t fazed by the fangs sticking out of the open mouths of the fish.
“I don’t notice them much, but people from out of town always look up,” Martorella says.
Funaro weaves through the sidewalk traffic to a 116-year-old building, now an attorneys’ office. Claws of a winged dragon grip the sandstone facade, and the beast snarls from its perch toward a parking garage across the street.
Safely on the ground, Funaro walks past the creature and ducks under a low tree branch as he makes his way to Fourth Street. Turning the corner, he stands face-to-face with a giant lion at the entrance to Dollar Bank but doesn’t blink an eye.
“They don’t look ferocious,” Funaro says. “They are more warm, catlike lions.”
One large brown lion sits erect, watching visitors ascend the steps to the bank and looking toward its brother resting its head on a paw.
Across the street, dragons guard their home turf on the Fidelity Building. Puffing out their chests, fire curls out of their mouths above the arched doorways.
These creatures are called grotesques, as opposed to gargoyles, because they serve no function. Gargoyles are built into a structure to spit water away from a building; today’s architects use gutters.
The few real gargoyles left in Pittsburgh are at the top of the First Presbyterian Church, Downtown. Beasts, poised with their mouths open, prepare to empty rain water toward the ground.
In contrast to the angelic and religious windows of the church, the gargoyles sneer on the outside of the building. That doesn’t bother Mary Jane Snyder, church secretary and receptionist, who finds working in the architecturally unique building awe-inspiring.
“Gargoyles serve a functional purpose,” Snyder says. “I don’t know that it would be terribly charming to have water conducted through an angel.”
Bethany Hofstetter can be reached at bhofstetter@tribweb.com or 412-380-5687.
This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review © Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Carved creatures
By Bethany Hofstetter
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 27, 2006It’s a jungle out there. Just look up.
Hiding in plain sight on Downtown’s high-rises, lions gnash their teeth at passing cars, eagles and griffins perch above doorways, and dragons threaten to breathe fire on passersby.Docent Gabe Funaro, of Mt. Lebanon, leads a “city safari” of these architectural creatures and gargoyles with Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation’s Downtown Dragon tour.
Past the peaceful storefronts of Station Square, Funaro finds a fierce beast with a dog’s face guarding a fountain. The winged animal once stared down at traffic from the side of a now-demolished Liberty Avenue building, but today, its eyes focus over the reflective pool, protecting the pennies and wishes thrown into the water.
Across the Smithfield Street Bridge is the House Building, two blocks from the Mon River, where two creatures splash out of the side of the building. Called a catfish and dolphin by bystanders, the adornments have no real purpose.
“(Architects) used these animals for decoration, maybe like a flamingo on a lawn today,” Funaro said. “It makes the building unique. People may not know what the building is, but they will remember that it is the fish building.”
Louis Martorella, owner of Buon Giorno, walks into the building every morning to open his restaurant but isn’t fazed by the fangs sticking out of the open mouths of the fish.
“I don’t notice them much, but people from out of town always look up,” Martorella said.
Funaro weaves through the sidewalk traffic to a 116-year-old building, now an attorneys’ office. Claws of a winged dragon grip the sandstone facade, and the beast snarls from its perch toward a parking garage across the street.
Safely on the ground, Funaro walks past the creature and ducks under a low tree branch as he makes his way to Fourth Street. Turning the corner, he stands face-to-face with a giant lion at the entrance to Dollar Bank but doesn’t blink an eye.
“They don’t look ferocious,” Funaro said. “They are more warm, catlike lions.”
One large brown lion sits erect, watching visitors ascend the steps to the bank and looking toward its brother resting its head on a paw.
Across the street, dragons guard their home turf on the Fidelity Building. Puffing out their chests, fire curls out of their mouths above the arched doorways.
These creatures are not gargoyles; they’re called grotesques, because they serve no function. Gargoyles are built into a structure to spit water away from a building; today’s architects use gutters.
The few real gargoyles left in Pittsburgh are at the top of the First Presbyterian Church, Downtown. Beasts, poised with their mouths open, prepare to empty rain water toward the ground.
In contrast to the angelic and religious windows of the church, the gargoyles sneer on the outside of the building. That doesn’t bother Mary Jane Snyder, church secretary and receptionist, who finds working in the architecturally unique building awe-inspiring.
“Gargoyles serve a functional purpose,” Snyder said. “I don’t know that it would be terribly charming to have water conducted through an angel.”
Bethany Hofstetter can be reached at bhofstetter@tribweb.com or 412-380-5687.
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Book salutes closed school – Pupils take their memories with them
By Al Lowe
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Thursday, June 29, 2006Jonah Bayer, 10, of Allentown, remembers the bowling alley as the “coolest place” at Bishop Leonard School.
The school closed June 7 and will merge with St. Mary of the Mount in Mount Washington, opening Aug. 28.
Bishop Leonard in Mount Oliver was formed from a previous merger, and is affiliated with St. John Vianney parish. Like St. Mary, it served pupils in kindergarten through eighth grade.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh said the name of the merged school is Bishop Leonard-St. Mary of the Mount Academy. Pupils will go to the St. Mary building on Bingham Street in Mount Washington.
On the last day, copies of a book, “Bishop Leonard Memories,” compiling their contributed written memories, were distributed to the 224 pupils. Jonah’s memories were among them.
“The kids were really excited taking away something with such good memories of their school,” Principal Cindy Baldridge said.
The bowling alley was a favorite memory for many.
“Not too many grade schools have them,” wrote Nina Ricciardi, 11, of South Side. “From the outside, it looks really small, but inside, you can tell how big it is. It’s really big for the kind of space it is in.”
The four-lane alley had been unused for years but was refurbished in 2004 through the efforts of teacher Patty Nelson and other volunteers and was dedicated a year later as a recreation center, featuring air hockey and ping-pong tables. It was used for occasional gym classes, Spirit Days and the Bowling Club.
Some other memories shared by the pupils for the book:
“I experienced everything from scraped knees to a broken heart on that playground,” wrote Maegan Wagner, 13, of Mount Oliver.
“My favorite building is the cafeteria. I love food,” wrote Brandon Lewis, 12, of Arlington.
“What people don’t usually notice is the engraved statue [of St. Joseph] near the front door of the school. When I first came to this school in fourth grade, that was the first thing I noticed. I stared at it and it stared back at me. In seventh grade, we had to make a poem and picture about something. I found that same beautiful, detailed, though faded and chipped statue to draw,” recalled Jami Szalla, 12, of South Side.
“The squeaking bleachers have a vibration. I like it when it does that because at Mass, I get tired and it wakes me up,” wrote Dillon Secilia, 11, of Bon Air.
“I’ll miss the church, the lunchroom with the big windows, the creaky floors, the so-so view of downtown from Room 408, the stairs never ending, the long hallways and, most of all, the school,” wrote Jamie Miller, 12, of South Side.
“My favorite part of the school was the tunnel that connects the school to the cafeteria. I know no other school will have a tunnel,” wrote Dustin Miller, 10, of Bon Air.
“The most meaningful spot for me would have to be the four seats in the cafeteria. Every lunch, my friends and I shared laughs, gossip and, of course, lunches there. We would torture each other and never hold a grudge. We didn’t care who else was at the table or what was going on around us. We were in our world,” wrote Drew Miller, 13, of Bon Air.
The books were underwritten by PNC and were published by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, with funding support from South Side Local Development Co.’s Neighborhood Assistance Program/Compehensive Service Program and the Grable Foundation.
(Al Lowe is a freelance writer. )
Copyright © PG Publishing Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved.This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. © Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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School preservation sought at Turtle Creek
By M. Ferguson Tinsley,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thursday, March 30, 2006Listing the former Turtle Creek High School, now known as East Junior High School, on the National Register of Historic Places could be on the horizon — and it could help save the storied building.
A state preservation agency would have to be consulted before a nationally recognized landmark could be demolished, according to a representative of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
“We have a person working on the nomination form now,” said Ron Yochum, chief information officer for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
The nomination will be submitted in four to six weeks and a decision returned in a year, according to the foundation’s President Arthur Ziegler.
The final word must come down from the state Historical and Museum Commission in Harrisburg.
Ann Safley, a state museum commission historic preservation specialist, said the old high school was deemed eligible for the list several years ago and has been held at that status pending a formal nomination. Even so, eligibility alone bestows the same status as that of a building already on the national list, she emphasized.
Ultimately her department cannot stop demolition or renovation of a historic building, said Ms. Safley, but “if [Woodland Hills is] getting state or federal reimbursement for the project, they will have to consult with us.”
Mr. Yochum said The National Register designation is given to properties older than 50 that serve to recall significant historical events, people or locations.
“In this case it’s the architecture of the building and the importance to the community,” said Mr. Yochum.
Last December, up to 250 people rallied behind the Committee to Save Turtle Creek High School and challenged the Woodland Hills School District’s plan to spend up to $20 million to demolish the 90-year-old building in Turtle Creek.
Led by borough resident Bob Mock, the committee demanded that the district consider renovating the school rather than razing it for a new building.
Since then, the district has ordered HHSDR Architects/Engineers of Pittsburgh and Sharon to rethink the plan.
In January, the planners produced new drawings showing that renovations would cost nearly $22 million.
Further in response to the committee, the district formed a citizens/staff review group that has looked into the issue for several weeks. The group is due to comment on their findings next month, according to the district facilities coordinator Christopher Baker.
Mr. Baker said a representative from the Pittsburgh preservation group went through the building a week ago.
If the state Historical and Museum Commission gives the school a spot on the list, it could trigger more architect’s drawings. Demolition, however, may cease to be an option.
“Usually historical commissions don’t like for you to demolish their buildings,” Mr. Baker said.
(M. Ferguson Tinsley can be reached at mtinsley@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1455. )
This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. © Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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School fire does little damage at Arsenal Middle School
By Bobby Kerlik
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, March 21, 2006The roof of a historic Lawrenceville school caught fire Monday, but children are not expected to miss any classes, Pittsburgh Public Schools officials said.
There were no students in Arsenal Middle School at the time because an after-school program had just ended. The remaining staff were evacuated, and no one was injured, Principal Debra Rucki said.
Firefighters had the one-alarm fire — which started about 4:40 p.m. — extinguished within minutes of arrival. Arson investigators ruled the fire accidental.
A Strip District company, Ralph J. Meyer Co., has been doing work on the school’s roof.
Workers had been using torches earlier in the day, and parts of the roof that were smoldering progressed to flames, arson investigators said.
The fire was contained to the roof. It appeared to cause no damage inside the building, except for water seeping into the top floor, Rucki said.
Materials and equipment, including rubber insulation and propane tanks, sent thick plumes of black smoke into the sky, said Pittsburgh fire Battalion Chief Keith Drudy.
“It looked a lot worse than it was,” Drudy said of the fire. “I knew right away when I pulled up and saw the (trash bin). We always have (fire) problems with roofers in general.”
Ralph J. Meyer Co. officials could not be reached for comment.
Worried parents watched firefighters extinguish the flames.
“I’ll be debating to send my kids to school (today),” said April Rocco. “I want to make sure it’s OK.”
District spokeswoman Lynne Turnquist said there will be school today.
Under the right-sizing plan adopted by the school board on Feb. 28, Arsenal, located at Butler and 40th streets, will be converted to an elementary school this fall.
The school is named for the old Allegheny Arsenal, which made armaments during the Civil War. The school, built in 1931, occupies part of the site where the munitions factory once stood. An addition was built in 1939.
The school was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It was designated a historic landmark by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation on Nov. 30, 1999, and on Dec. 17 of that year, it was designated a historic structure by the city of Pittsburgh.
Bobby Kerlik can be reached at bkerlik@tribweb.com.
This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review © Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Unusual tax credit sale would fund renovations at Schenley High
By Joe Smydo,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Monday, March 20, 2006Pittsburgh school officials are considering an unusual public-private partnership that would use federal tax credits to help pay for renovation of historic Schenley High School in Oakland.
Under the arrangement, Pittsburgh Public Schools would sell the 90-year-old building to a for-profit venture, such as a group of banks, and use the proceeds to address the school’s costly asbestos and systems problems.
But the for-profit group wouldn’t be buying the building as much as the tax credits an owner can get for overhauling an historic building, said Richard Fellers, district operations chief, and Chris Berdnik, district finance director.
Mr. Fellers and Mr. Berdnik said the for-profit partner would lease Schenley to the district for a period of years dictated by federal tax law. After that, the district would buy back the building at a nominal cost, perhaps $1.
The deal would allow the district to renovate Schenley while keeping its debt load down and the partner would get a reduction on its federal income taxes.
The plan is in a preliminary stage and subject to thorough vetting by the administration, school board and community, Mr. Fellers and Mr. Berdnik emphasized.
At Wednesday’s legislative meeting, school board members will vote on having the district’s bond lawyers work on the proposal.
“This is not a financing methodology that you read about every day for a school building,” Mr. Berdnik said.
But it isn’t unprecedented, either. Mr. Berdnik said he’s found three schools in Virginia and one in the area of Spokane, Wash., that were renovated under similar arrangements.
In addition, public-private partnerships have been formed to refurbish other kinds of historic buildings.
“Essentially, there is a market for for-profit organizations to acquire tax credits,” Mr. Fellers said.
Overall, the use of federal tax credits to rehabilitate historic properties is widespread. Since 1978, the program has helped owners make $3.5 billion in upgrades to 2,090 properties in Pennsylvania.
The tax credits are available only to building owners. The district doesn’t pay federal income taxes or have use for tax credits itself. Mr. Berdnik suggested bringing in a private partner to leverage the credits and limit the renovation project’s impact on city taxpayers.
In November, as part of a districtwide reorganization, school Superintendent Mark Roosevelt proposed closing the triangle-shaped Schenley building and moving the school to the Reizenstein Middle School site in Shadyside in 2007.
Mr. Roosevelt said the district couldn’t afford to renovate Schenley, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a long list of distinguished alumni. One architect estimated the project would cost $55.7 million, and another put the cost at $86.9 million.
Parents, students and other school supporters mounted a campaign to save the building, saying its location in vibrant Oakland fueled success of the school’s international studies program. Mr. Roosevelt named a task force to study the school’s future, and a third architect later proposed a scaled-down rehabilitation for $32 million.
Mr. Roosevelt has put Schenley’s fate on hold indefinitely.
While Mr. Fellers and Mr. Berdnik declined to say how much money the district may put into Schenley, they said tax credits wouldn’t fund the whole project.
To make up the difference, the district could issue bonds or use proceeds from the sale of other buildings. There’s no shortage of buildings to sell, given that Mr. Roosevelt’s reorganization will close 18.
The federal tax credits would cover 20 percent of the cost of work allowed by the federal government, said Bonnie Wilkinson Mark, historical architect with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Abatement of asbestos and overhaul of heating and ventilation systems are allowable work; landscaping and sidewalk work are not.
Mr. Fellers and Mr. Berdnik proposed selling the tax credits for more than 90 cents on the dollar and offered this example:
A $40 million project would generate $8 million in tax credits. The district would sell the building — and the credits, they said — for about $7.3 million. The district would use the proceeds for renovations, and the private partner would use the credits to lower its income taxes.
Under federal law, the private partner would own the building for at least five years after renovations are completed.
During that period, the partner would lease the building to the district for continued use as Schenley High School. At the end of that period, the district would buy back the building for a nominal charge.
Ms. Wilkinson Mark said she’d already heard about the proposal from an architect working with the district.
She said the partners would have to submit the proposal to her organization for review. The commission would then make a recommendation to the National Park Service, which has the authority to accept or reject tax-credit projects.
On Wednesday, school board members will vote on paying up to $30,000 for the district’s bond counsel to research the proposal.
(Joe Smydo can be reached at jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.)
This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. © Pittsburgh Post Gazette