Dilworth Elementary School
Why it's listed
Built in 1914-1915 on St. Marie and Collins Streets, Dilworth Elementary School is an H-shaped brick building of two and a half stories with a tile gabled roof, a tall central chimney, and terra cotta and ornamental brickwork in the cross-gabled end bays. Its central entrance projects between buttress-like piers beneath a stepped parapet, and the wall surface is Flemish bond brick with eight-over-eight sash windows. The architects, Martin U. Vrydaugh and Thomas B. Wolfe, worked in a Jacobean Revival manner that the property's description calls stylistically unique in Pittsburgh. The interior has a broad center hall, exposed brick window surrounds, and a kindergarten with a fireplace. An auditorium added at the rear in 1927 has its own outside access for community use. The school is named for the Dilworth family, whose land was transferred to the School Board. It is significant for its architecture and for its early elegant design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant in architecture as a consciously elegant design, stylistically unique in the city and echoing European school designs of the 1910s. It also cites progressive educational features such as a well-lit kindergarten and basement play spaces, which it describes as transitional in their limited functionality.
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 86002663, listed September 30, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Saint Marie and Collins Sts., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | September 30, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002663 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901-1920 |
| Architectural style | Jacobean Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition recorded as good on the survey form; in use as a school. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.46911, -79.91727 (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 86002663.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5277099
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.