PPG Plaza

Between Third and Fourth Avenues, downtown Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA

Submitted by: R Dylewski

"PPG Plaza is nothing more than a sidewalk on steroids."

Click on any image for slide show

For more images of PPG Plaza or other places, try searching our Image Collection

Why It Doesn't Work

PPG Plaza is nothing more than a sidewalk on steroids, with all the charm therein. Designed by celebrity architect Phillip Johnson as part of his suite of several glass-turreted PPG buildings, it is a desolate space you are prone to cross quickly, in an effort to limit your time spent there. In the center of the square is a rather squat olbelisk, mounted on a stone plinth. Locally, it is often described as the sort of place that firing squads would use.

Instead of adding to the public space of Pittsburgh, PPG Plaza subtracted. The recent wintertime addition of a skating rink is only one example of ways in which people have desperately tried to make this space work.

What Puts PPG Plaza in the Hall of Shame?

The PPG buildings which border this square of three sides are heartless glass towers. When walking in the square you don't quite know where to look - as the buildings are uninspired toys, and the square has no focus or charm.

Sitting in PPG Plaza is frowned upon, particularly on the plinth that dominates the center of the square. Rent-A-Cops will shoo away those who try. Occasionally some tables and chairs will be set up for the lunchtime crowd - but nothing permanent is intended. The entire visual script reads, "stay away."

As above.

No one in their right mind would show off this place as a source of "urban pride." And few people meet there. It is too large and disorienting. The problem would be: Where would you tell people to meet you? It's all the same.

Contact Info:

PPG Industries. The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. Pittsburgh Urban Maget Program.

User Comments:

> Add your own comment about PPG Plaza

08/26/02 Irene Thompson said:: It continually amazes me how these guys come up with this stuff, as if the principles of making good spaces were not common sense and common knowledge. But instead, what's happening here is guys playing with their skyscrapers. Too bad.
11/26/02 R. Lesser said:: I disagree with your vision of PPG Plaza. With the addition of the skating rink, and more recently the water fountain, this space is visually stunning in that it reflects our city back to us. Yes, I would like to see some permanent benches, and maybe an outdoor market of some sort on pleasant days, but don't overlook the adjoining Wintergarden which can be enjoyed year round. The fact that the PPG Plaza doesn't have benches to sit on helps to keep it free of the mess that plagues Market Square, where no one will meet for fear of sitting in pigeon, or worse yet, human feces.
09/26/03 Rose D said:: I recently stumbled across your "Great Public Spaces" site and was dismayed to read your review of the PPG Place Plaza in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a life-long Pittsburgher who has worked many years in downtown Pittsburgh, I have seen the PPG Place Plaza change over the past 20 years. I might agree that several years ago the Plaza was a desolate space that the public would walk quickly across; however, it has changed significantly over the past three years.

In 2001 downtown Pittsburgh's only outdoor skating rink was installed in the center of the Plaza. With the 65' Christmas tree in the center reflecting around the six surrounding buildings, the Plaza is a site to behold during the holiday season. There are several tables and benches situated around the rink for skaters and spectators alike.

In the spring of 2003 the plaza underwent yet another transformation. A beautiful water feature was installed surrounding the obelisk in the center of the Plaza. The feature is complete with water jets that shoot up to 15' in various patterns throughout the day. Surrounding this water feature are approximately 50 tables, 100 chairs, umbrellas, trees and planters. The space has become a meeting place for downtown office workers as well as a destination for visitors to the City. It is delightful to watch children frolic in the fountain while their parents enjoy their lunch on nearby tables.

"Hall of Shame" as you called it? No way!! This is something that all Pittsburghers should be proud of!

I think it's time for you to take another look!!
11/22/03 M. Williams said:: I moved out of the Pittsburgh area where I grew up and now live in Philadelphia. I am proud of my hometown and especially the many improvements being made that make it more appealing to professionals my age. I can't wait to be back in the 'burgh this holiday weekend and am looking forward to taking my date ice skating at PPG Place. Changes like these are what keep me coming back.
07/07/04 J. McCarthy said:: The PPG Place Plaza is now a spectacular space....inviting, stimulating, enjoyable, dynamic, and beautiful. I view it as an "oasis" in the city. When I am out and about I take every opportunity to pass through it, not only to enjoy it but to do some people watching. I enjoy watching the small children play in the water and I particularly enjoy watching those people who seem to be rushing somewhere but then they stop and stare because they are taken in by the unpredictability of the fountain. It's a beauty to be enjoyed and I thank those who are responsible for this gift to the city.
09/30/04 Ralph Stahley said:: I live in Pittsburgh, and I agree with the comments that PPS posted on this space. It's possible that Pittsburghers are offended by this review because PPG Plaza happens to be the only clean place in our run down city. However, cleanliness alone does not warrant praise upon a cold and uninviting square of concrete.

True, they have installed an ice rink and a fountain - oh, and a Christmas tree. Has anyone noticed that setting all of this up involves construction twice each year lasting almost two months?

I love the comment on the number of tables and chairs posted by one commenter. Yeah, there are a few (not fifty by any means) tables and chairs, but, entering from Market Square, all of that is on the left - nothing at all is on the right.

The problem with PNC Plaza is same problem we are having with the rest of our city: Fountains, paint jobs, and the Just Ducky tour don't attract people - shade, grass, and entertainment do.

Market square, which sits right next door to this plaza, is full of energy, music, and trees. The only sad thing is that Market Square is half the size and has three or four busy streets running through it.

Something should be done to move the activity from Market Square to the plaza. I'm pretty sure we can all deal with a few pigeons.
08/31/06 Phil Myrick said:: This space was recently improved with a fountain and ice skating rink in winter - it made such a positive impact that the Downtown Neighborhood Association gave the owners (Elsie and Henry Hilman) an award in 2006 for these contributions to making downtown a better place to live. Pictures coming soon.
07/17/07 Melanie Como Harris said:: One of the characteristics that make PPG Plaza utterly inhospitable is the wind. The plaza is open to the prevailing weather from the Mon River but then enclosed by tall just enough to create a shadowy wind tunnel. It also doesn't help that there's virtually no retail at the base of the scrapers. I think the real tragedy of it all is that this site was part of the original town square with a huge public market building that occupied both Market Square and part of the PPG site. Instead of recreating the hustle and bustle of the pubic market, PPG chokes off Market Square and provides a cold, desolate worker drone environment.
02/16/08 debbie brown said:: There have been many improvements since the first posting of this subject. There are now many tables and chairs and unbrellas all over the plaza now in the summer. I like the fact that there are security guards in the plaza at all times (since I go to lunch late and there aren't many people around) as sometimes the bums from market square will sit here and cause trouble. I was kind of scared last summer when a table full of people started swearing loudly at each other at the table next to me. Just as I was going to leave for a safer spot, security came over and kicked them out (the bums couldn't understand why - they said they were joking around - it didn't sound like it to me) there were at least 5 kids around who could hear them! I usually feel safe sitting there - I would never sit in market square. It is windy, but it sure feels good when it is hot out - or just sit in the sun when it is chilly out. I sit there every day that it isn't raining. It is hard to get a table if you go to lunch around noon though. There are food venders all around market square and one in the ppg plaza in the summer. I usually just get Subway and then find a table in the plaza. They have market days in market square on Thursdays now. It's really busy. They also have a lot of tables and chairs all over market square now. If you haven't seen ppg plaza in a few years, you have to see it around xmas and in the summer. It's really nice.