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),
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
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.
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.
