It may not be the oldest building in Downtown Pittsburgh � that would be the Fort Pitt Blockhouse, built in 1764 � but it is the second oldest, as well as the oldest building in Pittsburgh designed by an architect.
The Greek Revival-style, three-story structure located at 209 Fourth Ave. was built in 1836. Designed by English-born-and-trained architect John Chislett (1800-1869), Pittsburgh's first professional architect, it stands in diminutive stature next to a rather dissimilar structure, PPG Place.
A most apropos setting for three reasons: 1. The structure survived Renaissance I and II (the latter of which gave us Philip Johnson's glittering glass landmark PPG Place): 2. It also survived the great fire of 1845, and a fire of its own at the turn of the last century. (The rafters in the attic still show the signs of charring from that incident.) and 3. The building is totally green-compliant and ready for the 21st century.
Chislett designed the rather understated building for Robert and Andrew Burke, attorneys active in land development in Pittsburgh. The spare Greek Revival design is accented by sparse but perfectly placed classical ornamentation, such as the double laurel wreaths above each of the Doric columns that flank the doorway.
Chislett, who opened his practice in Pittsburgh in 1833, is perhaps best known for his design of the Butler Street gatehouse (1848) of Allegheny Cemetery, as well as for designing Allegheny County's second courthouse (1834), which was destroyed by fire in 1882, and the Orphan Asylum of Pittsburgh and Allegheny (1838), which still stands in the Mexican War Streets neighborhood.
At the time of its construction, the Burke Building's design was noted in one of local newspaper for its "elegant simplicity and restraint."
And indeed, it was, being mostly made of materials culled from the immediate area. The pine, tuliptree and white oak used to form the rafters, floors and stairways were probably floated down the Allegheny from a county or two away. Sandstone for walls and the facade was cut from quarries nearby. Bricks probably came from one of the seven local brick works in operation.
The structure has very few contemporaries, because Pittsburgh has gone through four distinct building periods, each one largely replacing the previous era's designs. Inside, much of what exists today dates to the turn of the century. The building was renovated after a fire in 1900.
At the core is a central staircase that winds up through all three of the main floors. All four original fireplaces are still there, as well as the internal pocket shutters in the front windows. About a third of the rooms still have the original white-oak plank flooring, and some still sport the original tin ceilings. On the second floor there is a rather unique double-door safe (thought to be designed that way for fire protection), and in the basement, a smaller safe sunk into the floor -- both adding to the theory that the building once housed a bank.
Although not all of the building's previous uses are known, what is known is that, in the 19th century, the building housed a daguerreian, or photography, shop; an artist's studio; and the headquarters for the Denny Estate, one of the first great fortunes in Pittsburgh based on the ownership of land. In the 20th century, it was the site of an insurance agency, a fountain-pen service company, a barbershop and a restaurant. The latter being the colonial-styled Arthur's Restaurant, which closed in 1990.
Although it stands empty now, the building was occupied by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for 10 years. The conservancy bought the building in February 1996, and spent almost one year renovating the then 161-year-old structure.
That organization vacated the premises about a year and a half ago in search of a larger facility, but not without making some considerable and commendable changes. In 1997 and 1998, the conservancy was awarded no less than four prestigious awards for renovations that today are considered green compliant. The awards include: 1997 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence, 1998 Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Award of Merit, 1997 BOMA Historic Building Award -- Building of the Year, and 1997 certificate of recognition by the city of Pittsburgh.
According to Kurt Mrazik of CB Richard Ellis/Pittsburgh, with which the property is listed for sale at $795,000, "The Burke Building is a living model of environmentally responsible building design."
Aided by a grant from the Vira I. Heinz Endowments, the conservancy sought the advice of experts in sustainable building, or "green" architecture.
The group met with local specialists at Carnegie Mellon University and Conservation Consultants, Inc., and also received advice from experts at the Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado.
Ellis Schmidlapp of Landmark Design Associates, served as the conservancy's architect on the project and also provided assistance with environmental and structural issues, as well as with paint samples, floor plans and blueprints.
The renovation and maintenance incorporated a wide variety of state-of-the art technologies, including the installation of:
� An energy-efficient heating-and-cooling system that efficiently dehumidifies and cools or heats the air and sends it to one of 16 thermal zones in the building.
� Historically correct copper downspouts that have heated wire for ice prevention.
� Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant toilets and entranceways.
To preserve the past, the conservancy took every opportunity to reuse existing materials, including some from the building's original construction in 1836. For example, the conference room bookshelves and fireplace mantle were built from the original wood floor joists cut to make way for an elevator. To maintain the historic look and feel, the joists were cut by a craftsman who used blades dating to the Civil War era.
The remaining antique fireplace mantles were refinished and the fireplaces were sealed off. And the original antique shutters in the front windows of the building were refinished. Additionally, wood on vestibule walls, entryway walls and the entryway staircase were refinished.
"(The conservancy) wanted to demonstrate its leadership and commitment to environmental sustainability by providing a living model of environmentally responsible building design," Mrazik says. And that they most certainly did.
