The site of the Civic Arena is an extremely politically and culturally charged area that has been stirring a lot of debate recently amongst Pittsburghers and Preservationists. It has occurred to me that some of my blog followers may not be completely aware of the history that is fueling much of the argument.
At the time of its dedication on September 17, 1961 the Mellon Arena was the largest dome in the world and the world’s first non-internally supported roof that could be opened and closed at will. It was cheered as a “momentous triumph of progressive technology”. The building’s most recognized feature – the domed roof – is comprised of eight stainless steel leaves soaring 136 feet high and spanning 415 feet in diameter. Six of these leaves are moveable and, when activated, can open in approximately two and a half minutes. The roof is supported from above with a large steel arm that poetically cantilevers and curves along the roof’s profile until it sturdily meets the ground. Because the roof is externally supported, it allows for fewer obstructed views for the audience inside. Concrete girders surround the base and provide structure for the ring on which over 3,000 feet of track guide the steel leaves as they open and close. The combination of steel and concrete materials reflects a tradition of Pittsburgh building strategies and speaks to Pittsburgh’s well-known economic history of steel manufacturing.
Affectionately called “The Igloo” by many Pittsburgh natives for its domed roof and cool steel and concrete tones, this building was originally known as the Civic Auditorium. As the name suggests, it was originally intended as the new home for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera company after many of their outdoor shows had been rained out. The flexibility of the roof allowed for the option of having shows partially outside, or completely inside when inclement weather was expected. During the Igloo’s lifetime it has become a cultural center in Pittsburgh, not only for the opera but for many performances and events. Over its nearly fifty year history it has hosted concerts featuring Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead and Eric Clapton, boxing matches involving Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson, soccer matches, basketball games, Billie Jean King and the World Team Tennis, the 1983 World Figure Skating Championships and, of course, numerous National Hockey League hockey games and Stanley Cup finals. Currently known as the Mellon Arena, the building is home to the well-loved Pittsburgh Penguin hockey team. Many Pittsburghers have had unforgettable memories underneath the dome that graces the city skyline. For its unique shape and cultural importance, the Mellon Arena is an easily recognized Pittsburgh landmark and icon which is etched in the memories of the many people who have visited it. The original building was constructed to seat 12,000, but capacity was eventually increased to almost 17,000 to allow more seats for the Penguins games. Since 1992 over 10 million people have enjoyed hockey games alone underneath the dome. While the Mellon Arena is currently the smallest franchise hockey arena, with its circular shape and amazing roof, it is arguable the most unique architecturally.
However, not all of the memories of the Mellon Arena are positive. In many American cities unsightly slum neighborhoods became targeted for redevelopment projects, oftentimes without thought given to where the dislocated people would go. These redevelopment projects were rarely coupled with government funded housing projects which would have given the displaced residents a place to live once their homes were reclaimed. With automobiles gaining in popularity and the creation of suburban sprawl, cities needed to adjust to accommodate the new traffic patterns as well as try to maintain life in the city by enticing populations with cultural outlets and entertainment. Pittsburgh was no exception. The Civic Auditorium was the first and only building completed in an urban redevelopment plan known as the Pittsburgh Acropolis that called for the demolition of many buildings in the Lower Hill District of Pittsburgh. Considered a highly respectable middle and upper middle class neighborhood in the late nineteenth century, the Lower Hill District slowly became populated with a large number of lower income working class, predominantly African American residents. After World War II, the Lower Hill District was considered the urban slum of Pittsburgh with many buildings that were close to disrepair and density reaching a peak. For the redevelopment project over 100 acres consisting of 1,300 structures including homes and about 400 businesses in the Lower Hill District were demolished to make way for the construction of the Civic Auditorium. Over 8,000 people were displaced to make way for the revitalization project in the Lower Hill District.
While considered a slum by some, the Lower Hill District was an important place in the African American community of Pittsburgh. Comparable to what Harlem is to New York City, the Hill District featured jazz music, clubs and speakeasies. For example, acclaimed playwright August Wilson spent most of his childhood growing up within eyesight of where the Civic Auditorium was constructed and some of the settings of his plays were in the neighborhood of his youth with the characters based upon people in his community. Unfortunately, most of Pittsburgh’s African American hotspots in the Lower Hill District were destroyed and the inhabitants were forced to find a new place to call home. This history behind the creation of the Arena is still a looming scar scratched in the building’s foundations. While the social history that surrounds the formation of the Civic Auditorium is less than positive, a city must embrace its past mistakes and allow future generations to learn from them instead of merely covering up faults with destructive means.
From this history there is no doubt why the Civic Arena is causing a stir. While the Pittsburgh Penguins have been charged with the development of the site, there are questions as to what belongs there. Some would like to see the grid from the Hill District move back in and reclaim the lost residential neighborhood. In my humble opinion, that’s romantic, but stupid. Pittsburgh is facing a population crisis with more people leaving than coming in and the residential sector is suffering. Why add onto the problem by creating more housing? Others are purely looking at financials and want to turn the land into the high-demand surface parking that Downtown “desperately needs.” This would be an insult to the Civic Arena by completely erasing its memory for something as mundane (and more ugly than the buildings) as an asphalt jungle that does nothing for the citizens other than have another place to park. A more expensive option financially but saving on land would be a parking garage…you’ll get the same amount of parking spaces with a fraction of the amount of land. I am admittedly not big in economics or business so I’m sure there are other factors that can be added in all these scenarios that I have overlooked or am not familiar with and I am open to any rational reasoning. I will need to take a more serious look at program soon.
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