Union Trust Building
Why it's listed
Built on a full city block in downtown Pittsburgh, the Union Trust Building rises 237 feet to the tops of its twin Gothic towers. Henry Clay Frick began it as the Union Arcade, and construction started in May 1915, with the arcade opening on April 1, 1917. Its design combined a steel frame with Cleveland sandstone and terra cotta, and a steep mansard roof with dormers and glazed tan terra cotta crestings. The central rotunda rises ten stories to a stained glass skylight. Frick chose a site formerly occupied by two Gothic Revival cathedrals, the second of which was demolished in 1904. The Union Trust Company bought the building in 1922 and converted the Fifth Avenue arcade into banking rooms. The building is regarded as the finest large interior space in Pittsburgh, and it remains in use and well maintained.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the finest large office building in Pittsburgh and one of the most architecturally significant structures downtown. Its steel frame, stone and terra cotta exterior, mansard roof with Gothic towers, and large central rotunda with a stained glass skylight are presented as its main distinctions. The building is also linked to Frick's development of the former cathedral site.
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 74001748, listed January 21, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 501 Grant St., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | January 21, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001748 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1916 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Gothic and Tudor influences; Renaissance elements; twentieth century commercial styles |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | It is in excellent condition and very well maintained, and it is well occupied and still a valuable functioning unit in the downtown area. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Pittsburgh Central Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.43973, -79.99651 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 74001748.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7886360
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.