I love writing and learning new things in order to better educate those in need. I also enjoy hackathons and adventures around the world.
Frederick J Osterling
Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share
Sign in
Name
Frederick Osterling
Role
Architect
Died
1934, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Structures
Union Trust Building, Washington County Courthouse, Washington County Jail, Carnegie Free Library of, Music Building
Frederick John Osterling (October 4, 1865, Duquesne, Pennsylvania – July 5, 1934, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was an American architect, practicing in Pittsburgh from 1888.
Frederick J. Osterling was born to Philip and Bertha Osterling in Dravosburg, Pennsylvania, in 1865. The Osterling family moved to Allegheny City when Frederick was young. Following his schooling in Allegheny City, Osterling began work in the office of Joseph Stillburg, and was published in American Architect and Building News at age 18. Following a period of European travel, he launched his own practice in 1888. During his career he designed many prominent Pittsburgh buildings, such as the Union Trust Building (1915–17). According to Martin Aurand, Architecture Librarian at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Osterling's practice faltered after controversy relating to his anticipated alteration to the landmark H.H. Richardson Allegheny County Courthouse and a public lawsuit filed by the industrialist Henry Clay Frick. Osterling's studio was in a building he designed himself in 1917 at 228 Isabella Street in Pittsburgh's North Shore neighborhood.
Significant buildings designed by Osterling in chronological order
All buildings are in Pittsburgh unless otherwise stated; italics denote a registered Historic Landmark:
Charles Schwab House (541 Jones Avenue), 1889
Heinz Company Factories, 1889
Bellefield Presbyterian Church (Bellefield and 5th Ave) 1889; only the bell tower remains),
Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building (Wilmerding, Pennsylvania), 1889–1890
Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania Building, now Verizon Building (416-420 Seventh Avenue), 1890
Marine Bank Building, later known as Fort Pitt Federal Building (301 Smithfield Street), 1890
Times Building (334-336 Fourth Avenue), 1892
Byrnes & Kiefer Building(1133 Penn Avenue), 1892
Clayton, now the Frick Art & Historical Center, 1892 remodeling by Osterling of an 1870s house at 7200 Penn Avenue. This was the home of Henry Clay Frick, the industrialist.
First Methodist Church, now Shadyside Seventh Day Adventist Church (821 South Aiken Avenue), 1893
Chautauqua Lake Ice Company Warehouse, now the Heinz History Center (1212 Smallman Street), 1898
Washington County Courthouse & Jail (Washington, Pennsylvania), 1899–1900
Allegheny County Morgue (Originally on Forbes Avenue; the building was physically moved to 542 Fourth Avenue in 1929), built 1901
Armstrong Cork Company Building, now The Cork Factory Lofts (2349 Railroad Street at 23rd Street), 1901
Hays Hall, a residence hall at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, built from 1901 to 1903 (demolished in 1994)
Washington Trust Building, Washington, Pennsylvania, 1902
Arrott Building (401 Wood Street), 1902
Colonial Trust Company Building, now part of the Bank Center of Point Park University (Wood Street, between Forbes and Fourth Avenues), 1902. Also, Osterling designed a T-shaped lobby that was added to his original building in 1926.
Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls (Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania), 1903
Iroquois Apartments, now offices (3600 Forbes Avenue), 1903
Allegheny County Jail (Ross Street), 1903-1905 additions by Osterling to the 1886 building by Henry Hobson Richardson
Allegheny High School, now Allegheny Middle School (810 Arch Street), 1904
Commonwealth Trust Building (312 Fourth Avenue), 1907
Luzerne County Courthouse (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania), 1909
Union Trust Building (501 Grant Street), 1917
Gwinner-Harter House, also known as the William B. Negley House (5061 Fifth Avenue) was designed by an unknown architect and built 1870-1871. However, Osterling was responsible for additions between 1912 and 1923.
Osterling Flats, date unavailable. These are three houses at 3603-3607 California Avenue with Dutch design elements, which were converted into condos by the Brighton Heights Citizens' Federation in 2003.
