Mellon Square is an urban park in DowntownPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the first Modernist park built above a parking garage. With its distinctive black, white and green geometric pavement, it is a prominent urban oasis and gathering spot in Downtown Pittsburgh.
The square, bounded by Smithfield Street, William Penn Place, and Oliver and Sixth Avenues, is surrounded by prominent downtown buildings including the Oliver Building, 525 William Penn Place, Omni William Penn Hotel, and the Regional Enterprise Tower. It has long been a popular lunchtime destination for downtown workers. In addition, retail shops are housed underneath it, along the Smithfield Street side of the square.
In the 1800s the site was home to Turner Hall, and in 1881 the world's first labor union, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions (later to become the AFL and part of the AFL-CIO) had its founding conference at the site.[2] By the early 20th century the northern part of the block bordering Oliver Avenue was occupied by the Standard Oil Building (later to become the Peoples Gas Building) while the southern section of the block was occupied by the Davis Theater.[3] On March 10, 1921 the world's 1st broadcast of live theater/opera was conducted by KDKA-AM from the Davis Theater.
After World War II, the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA), which was established in Pittsburgh in the 19th century, proposed to move to New York City. Banker Richard King Mellon aimed to block the move. In 1949 he proposed a new downtown headquarters building for ALCOA (now the Regional Enterprise Tower). As a bonus, it would have a nearby underground parking garage capped by a public plaza: Mellon Square, built in 1953-55, designed by Mitchell & Ritchey, landscaped by Simonds & Simonds, and paid for by Mellon family foundations. The Mellon family through various foundations gave a total of $4 million ($50.7 million in 2023 dollars) to help create the park, $3.5 million for property acquisition ($44.4 million in 2023 dollars) and $500,000 ($6.34 million in 2023 dollars) to build the parking garage and flora.[4] On September 28, 1953 Pittsburgh City Council officially renamed the block "Mellon Square". Upon completion, Mellon gave the property to the City of Pittsburgh. Mellon Square is named in honor of Mellon's father and uncle, Richard Beatty Mellon (1858-1933) and Andrew Mellon (1855-1937). A dedication marker on ground level says the following: "Mellon Square is dedicated to the memory of two brothers, Andrew W. Mellon and Richard B. Mellon, their leadership, civic spirit and philanthropy advanced immeasurably the welfare of this community". The square is part of the Pittsburgh Central Downtown Historic District, which received National Register of Historic Places status in 1985.
The Square serves as the backdrop to revealing scenes in the 2002 thriller The Mothman Prophecies with Richard Gere and Laura Linney. In the movie Gere travels to "Chicago" and meets "The Professor" in the square. Many Pittsburgh landmark buildings and cathedrals are showcased and get close-ups to add a visual layer to the revelations discussed in the square.
Renovationedit
The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy along with funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, The Colcom Foundation, The Eden Hall Foundation, BNY Mellon and other, spent $10 million and many years to renovate the square. The project replaced all of the original flooring and stairs, which had fallen into disrepair. The square re-opened to the public in May 2014.[5]
Triviaedit
The square opened with over 25,000 trees, shrubs and flowers.
The nine circular bronze basins for the block-long fountain were in 1953 the largest ever cast.
The Union Square underground garage in San Francisco served as inspiration for the facility and square.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mellon Square.
Kidney, Walter C. (1997). Pittsburgh's Landmark Architecture: The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. ISBN0-916670-18-X.
mellon, square, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2011, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, u. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mellon Square is an urban park in Downtown Pittsburgh Pennsylvania United States It is the first Modernist park built above a parking garage With its distinctive black white and green geometric pavement it is a prominent urban oasis and gathering spot in Downtown Pittsburgh Mellon SquareTypeMunicipal ParkLocationPittsburgh PennsylvaniaCoordinates40 25 56 N 79 54 18 W 40 432314 N 79 904904 W 40 432314 79 904904Area1 acre 0 40 ha CreatedSeptember 28 1953Operated byCity of Pittsburgh Citiparks Pittsburgh Parks ConservancyParkingUnderground parking garageWebsiteOfficial websitePittsburgh Landmark PHLFDesignated1982 1 The square bounded by Smithfield Street William Penn Place and Oliver and Sixth Avenues is surrounded by prominent downtown buildings including the Oliver Building 525 William Penn Place Omni William Penn Hotel and the Regional Enterprise Tower It has long been a popular lunchtime destination for downtown workers In addition retail shops are housed underneath it along the Smithfield Street side of the square Contents 1 History 2 Historical marker 3 Fictional Portrayals 4 Renovation 5 Trivia 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editIn the 1800s the site was home to Turner Hall and in 1881 the world s first labor union the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions later to become the AFL and part of the AFL CIO had its founding conference at the site 2 By the early 20th century the northern part of the block bordering Oliver Avenue was occupied by the Standard Oil Building later to become the Peoples Gas Building while the southern section of the block was occupied by the Davis Theater 3 On March 10 1921 the world s 1st broadcast of live theater opera was conducted by KDKA AM from the Davis Theater After World War II the Aluminum Company of America ALCOA which was established in Pittsburgh in the 19th century proposed to move to New York City Banker Richard King Mellon aimed to block the move In 1949 he proposed a new downtown headquarters building for ALCOA now the Regional Enterprise Tower As a bonus it would have a nearby underground parking garage capped by a public plaza Mellon Square built in 1953 55 designed by Mitchell amp Ritchey landscaped by Simonds amp Simonds and paid for by Mellon family foundations The Mellon family through various foundations gave a total of 4 million 50 7 million in 2023 dollars to help create the park 3 5 million for property acquisition 44 4 million in 2023 dollars and 500 000 6 34 million in 2023 dollars to build the parking garage and flora 4 On September 28 1953 Pittsburgh City Council officially renamed the block Mellon Square Upon completion Mellon gave the property to the City of Pittsburgh Mellon Square is named in honor of Mellon s father and uncle Richard Beatty Mellon 1858 1933 and Andrew Mellon 1855 1937 A dedication marker on ground level says the following Mellon Square is dedicated to the memory of two brothers Andrew W Mellon and Richard B Mellon their leadership civic spirit and philanthropy advanced immeasurably the welfare of this community The square is part of the Pittsburgh Central Downtown Historic District which received National Register of Historic Places status in 1985 nbsp Historical markerHistorical marker editA historical marker in the square commemorates the Founding Convention of the American Federation of Labor which took place on November 15 1881 in Turner Hall near this location This site is on the List of Pennsylvania state historical markers in Allegheny County Fictional Portrayals edit nbsp The Mellon Square FountainThe Square serves as the backdrop to revealing scenes in the 2002 thriller The Mothman Prophecies with Richard Gere and Laura Linney In the movie Gere travels to Chicago and meets The Professor in the square Many Pittsburgh landmark buildings and cathedrals are showcased and get close ups to add a visual layer to the revelations discussed in the square Renovation editThe Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy along with funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation The Colcom Foundation The Eden Hall Foundation BNY Mellon and other spent 10 million and many years to renovate the square The project replaced all of the original flooring and stairs which had fallen into disrepair The square re opened to the public in May 2014 5 Trivia editThe square opened with over 25 000 trees shrubs and flowers The nine circular bronze basins for the block long fountain were in 1953 the largest ever cast The Union Square underground garage in San Francisco served as inspiration for the facility and square See also editMellon Green Market SquareReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mellon Square Kidney Walter C 1997 Pittsburgh s Landmark Architecture The Historic Buildings of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Pittsburgh Pittsburgh History amp Landmarks Foundation ISBN 0 916670 18 X Toker Franklin 1994 1986 Pittsburgh An Urban Portrait Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Press ISBN 0 8229 5434 6 Historic Landmark Plaques 1968 2009 PDF Pittsburgh PA Pittsburgh History amp Landmarks Foundation 2010 Retrieved July 2 2010 Eyewitness 1881 Gompers helps workers of the U S unite post gazette com Retrieved April 5 2018 Archived copy Archived from the original on September 5 2016 Retrieved March 10 2014 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link The Pittsburgh Press Google News Archive Search news google com Retrieved April 5 2018 Conservancy Pittsburgh Parks Mellon Square A Garden Plaza Located in Downtown Pittsburgh www pittsburghparks org Retrieved April 5 2018 External links editPittsburgh Parks official Mellon Square site City of Pittsburgh website Slide show and walking tour of Mellon Square QTVR virtual tour of Mellon Square park requires QuickTime Mellon Square improvements40 26 27 N 79 59 51 W 40 4409 N 79 9975 W 40 4409 79 9975 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mellon Square amp oldid 1212244610, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
