Two Mellon Center / Union Trust Building
Constructed in the early 1900s, the Mellon Union Trust Building is a 15-story office building which is crowned with a unique terra cotta mansard roof. Terra cotta, or “molded earth,” is made from clay and therefore subject to freezing and thawing. As a result, many of the roof tiles have become brittle and fragmented. As rain and snow seeped under the tiles, water damage ensued. To correct these problems, Graciano craftspeople are now making repairs to the roofs. The Chicago-based architectural firm of Raths, Raths and Johnson, specialists in terra-cotta, are overseeing the project.
The project includes:
- Repairs to the upper terra cotta mansard roofs
- Structural repairs to the roofs
- Waterproofing to prevent further water damage
- Replacement of terra cotta tiles and sculptures as needed, with GFRC
Project Portfolio Images
QuickTime Video
View a Two Mellon Center / Union Trust Building video from our project archives.
(Requires QuickTime plug-in - get it here)
Project Details
- Completion Date: 12/1/2005
- Owner: Mellon Financial
- Architect: Raths, Raths and Johnson
- General Contractor: Graciano Corporation
News and Awards
- Graciano Corporation Takes Top Honors At 2005 Golden Trowel Awards
- Ornate Landmark Gets Fixed, Three Buckets at a Time — Engineering News Record
- Restoration Brings Back Beauty of Downtown Gem — Pittsburgh Tribute Review
- Restoration of Terra Cotta Mansard Roof — Traditional Building
- Restoration Nears Completion on Historic Two Mellon Center ⁄ Union Trust Building
- Pittsburgh Projects Update