Connelly, Clifford B., Trade School
Also known as: Connelly Skill Learning Center
Why it's listed
Built on a hillside above downtown Pittsburgh at 1501 Bedford Avenue, the Connelly Trade School opened in 1930 after the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education decided in 1927 to replace scattered, overcrowded shop classes with a single facility. Its six-story academic building is faced in buff brick and has a central entry with a stone surround carved with beasts, a woman's head and trade panels. Behind it stands a shop building of two extra-height stories, with factory-type windows and a sawtooth roof largely of skylights. The academic building was designed by Edward Lee, who was also known for the City-County Building and the Chamber of Commerce Building. The school offered metal working, building, electrical and automotive trades, and its auditorium, painted pink and white, combines Classical and Art Deco motifs. The school is named for Clifford B. Connelly, a leader in Pittsburgh vocational education.
Significance in brief: The school is significant for its role in vocational education in Pittsburgh, which began with the Board of Public Education's 1912 decision to offer trade training for boys and was expanded to a dedicated building in 1927-1930. The academic building's richly detailed facade and auditorium and the shop building's industrial design are cited as notable examples of their period. The building is also associated with architect Edward Lee and with Clifford B. Connelly, a prominent figure in Pittsburgh vocational education and Pennsylvania Secretary of Labor and Industry.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86002661, listed September 30, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1501 Bedford Ave., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | September 30, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002661 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Edward B. Lee (architect); J. G. Fullman, Co. (builder) |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now known as the Connelly Skill Learning Center and in use as a school; the form lists the present use as school and the condition as good. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.44462, -79.98900 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86002661.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5132862
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.