Established September 1, 1937 Closed 2006 Built 1908 District Pittsburgh Public Schools Added to NRHP 30 September 1986 School type State school | Opened 1937 Grades 9–12 Area 4,000 m² Founded 1 September 1937 Extinction 2006 | |
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School district Pittsburgh Public Schools | ||
Washington Education Center is a former vocational school in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville at 40th Street and Eden Way.
The former Washington Polytec Academy is where Washington Elementary School with a history that spanned from 1868 until 1935 once stood. Originally named Washington Number One, the school was renamed to honor George Washington crossing of the Allegheny River with Christopher Gist. A marker on the school notes the event. A structure was constructed on the site in 1908 and in 1936 was expanded to form the Washington Trade School. The Charles W. Bier designed structure opened on September 1, 1937. From 1937 until the early 21st century it served as a public vocational school capable of accommodating 900 students and included a testing laboratory, bricklaying shop, print shop, library, two drafting rooms, blue print shop, mimeograph room, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 384.
On February 2, 1972 Julie Nixon Eisenhower visited the school during her fathers re-election campaign to discuss busing. In May 1972, an international contingent of students visited the center from Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Afghanistan, and Libya.
The school building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The building was used as a school until 2006; it has since been sold with plans to be converted to a hotel.