Gulf Tower

The Gulf Tower is a 44-story, 177.4 m (582 ft) Art Deco skyscraper in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[5] The tower is one of the major distinctive and recognizable features of the city and 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 ($13.3 billion or $32.7 billion today) to that time.

Gulf Tower
Gulf Tower, from US Steel Tower
General information
Type	Offices
Architectural style	Art Deco
Location	707 Grant Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Coordinates	40°26′33″N 79°59′43″W
Construction started	1930
Completed	1932
Cost	US$10.05 million ($153.8 million today)
Height
Roof	177.4 m (582 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	44
Floor area	409,320 sq ft (38,027 m^2)
Lifts/elevators	15
Design and construction
Architect	Trowbridge & Livingston Edward Mellon
Developer	Andrew W. Mellon
Structural engineer	McClintic-Marshall Construction Company
Main contractor	Mellon-Stuart
Pittsburgh Landmark – PHLF
Designated	1973[1]
References
[2][3][4]

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 at a cost of $10.05 million ($153.8 million today). As late as 1981 Gulf Oil employed 3,100 within the building.[6] Now called Gulf Tower, it has 44 floors and rises 177.4 m (582 ft) above Downtown Pittsburgh. The crown of the skyscraper is modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in the style of a step pyramid. The building was listed as a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark in 1973.[7]

On June 13, 1974, a bomb was detonated on the 29th floor of the Gulf Tower.[8] The Weather Underground Organization took credit for the attack, claiming it was in protest to Gulf Oil's involvement in the oil rich regions affected by the Angolan War of Independence.

Lighting

Prior to the late 1970s, the entire multistory "step-pyramid/mausoleum" structure at the top of the building was neon-illuminated, changing colors to provide a weather forecast that could be seen for many miles.[9] This concept was developed by the building manager Edward H. Heath. He used the Gulf Oil colors to create a simplified forecast: steady blue meant colder and fair; flashing blue meant colder with precipitation; steady orange meant warmer and fair; flashing orange meant warmer with precipitation. Subsequently, in an effort to conserve energy, the weather forecasting role had been limited to the weather beacon at the pinnacle of the pyramid, which would glow blue for precipitation and red for fair weather. Although the terraced sides were once again illuminated at night (by means of spotlights), the entire pyramid structure no longer changed color with the weather (the pinnacle beacon still had that function).

Original Weather Beacon

	Blue – steady	–	fair & colder temperature
	Blue – flashing	–	precipitation & colder temperature
	Orange red – steady	–	fair & rising temperature
	Orange red – flashing	–	precipitation & rising temperature

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.[10]

The KDKA Weather Beacon, the most recent weather beacon to adorn the pyramid atop the tower, was officially dedicated on July 4, 2012. In partnership with KDKA-TV, the Gulf Tower has been retrofit with a modern, automated LED weather beacon that will tell a more complete forecast than ever before. The Design concepts were created & implemented by the Design Team of Cindy Limauro and Christopher Popowich of C & C Lighting, LLC. A Pittsburgh based company. It will also feature holiday displays. Hearkening back to the original 1950's beacon, the entire pyramid will once again change colors at night depending on the current weather conditions. The new color-coded, tiered system works as such:[11]

Floor By Floor Breakdown

• 44th floor – temperature
• 43rd floor – temperature
• 42nd floor – temperature
• 41st floor – precipitation
• 40th floor – humidity
• 39th floor – wind speed

Temperature

	Dark blue	–	<0 °F (−18 °C)
	Med blue	–	0 to 32 °F (−18 to 0 °C)
	Light blue	–	33 to 49 °F (1 to 9 °C)
	Amber	–	50 to 65 °F (10 to 18 °C)
	Orange	–	66 to 79 °F (19 to 26 °C)
	Red	–	>80 °F (27 °C)

Precipitation

	Red purple	–	>.25 in (0.64 cm)
	Blue purple	–	≤.25 in (0.64 cm)

Humidity

	Light green	–	<50%
	Dark green	–	≥50%

Wind Speed

	Magenta	–	>10 mph (16 km/h)
	Pink	–	≤10 mph (16 km/h)

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Pittsburgh
• List of tallest buildings in Pennsylvania

References

1. Historic Landmark Plaques 1968–2009 (PDF). Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
2. Gulf Tower at Emporis
3. "Gulf Tower". SkyscraperPage.
4. Gulf Tower at Structurae
5. Conti, John (May 4, 2013). "Art Deco style survives in Pittsburgh—if you look around". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
6. "Loss of Gulf Would Be Costly in Pittsburgh". Beaver County Times. Associated Press. Retrieved March 25, 2016 – via Google News Archive Search.
7. "Historic Landmark Plaques: 1968–2009" (PDF). Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
8. Craig Smith (March 27, 2010). "Ayers' talk kept quiet at Pitt". The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
9. "Gulf Building 1930–1932". City of Pittsburgh. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
10. "A paperweight maybe?". Postgazette.com. June 13, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
11. "How To Read The KDKA-TV Weather Beacon Atop Gulf Tower". July 2, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.

Further reading

• 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.
• 1987 feature on Tower's history and transition from Gulf Oil
• 1989 news feature
• 1990 news feature

External links

Media related to Gulf Tower at Wikimedia Commons

• Gulf Tower description on the City of Pittsburgh tour page