Perry High School
Also known as: Perry Traditional Academy
Why it's listed
Perry High School is a buff brick, three-story Classical school on a terrace above Perrysville Avenue in Pittsburgh's Perry Hilltop area. The main section, including the front facade, dates from 1921, with a small north section built in 1899 and a rear wing added in 1925. Robert M. Trimble designed both the 1921 building and the 1925 addition, which provided a gymnasium, cafeteria and shop rooms. A square projecting pavilion at the southeast corner anchors the building, and its massive pilasters with terra cotta capitals, grouped windows and heavy entablature define the exterior. The main entry projects slightly and has two terra cotta Ionic columns. Its siting and Neo-Classical design make it one of Pittsburgh's most monumental school buildings, and it is a prominent example of the 1920s high school construction boom. Its plan reflects the period's move toward specialized school spaces. The interior is comparatively plain, though it retains marble steps and a coffered-ceiling auditorium.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school's siting and Neo-Classical styling make it one of Pittsburgh's most monumental school buildings, and a prominent representative of the high school building boom of the 1920s. Its 1920s additions are presented as illustrating the trend toward specialized spaces in Pittsburgh schools. The areas of significance listed are architecture and education.
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 86002702, listed September 30, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Perrysville Ave. and Semicir St., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | September 30, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002702 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881-1900; 1921-1940 |
| Architect / builder | Robert M. Trimble (architect) |
| Architectural style | Neo-Classical |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Fair condition; the school became a Traditional Academy magnet school in 1979 and is named Perry Traditional Academy in present use. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Riverview Park |
| Coordinates | 40.48884, -80.01855 (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 86002702.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7169960
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.