McCleary Elementary School, School building in Upper Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, US.
McCleary Elementary School is a school building in Upper Lawrenceville featuring five bays across its main facade with rectangular and arched windows set in brick. The interior is organized around a central rotunda from which eight classrooms radiate outward.
Designed by architect Ulysses J. Lincoln Peoples, the building opened in 1902 after construction costs unexpectedly surged from 35,000 to 130,000 dollars. This financial strain created tension in the community and cast a shadow over the project's completion.
The layout reflects early educational thinking, with classrooms arranged around a central rotunda that allowed teachers to monitor multiple spaces at once. This design was considered progressive for its time and shaped how school buildings were planned.
The building sits in a residential neighborhood and can be viewed from the outside to appreciate its architectural details. Keep in mind that since 2017 it has been converted to residential condominiums, so the interior is not open to the public.
The building opened on April 7, 1902 without any ceremony, because the community was unhappy with how the project had been managed and the massive cost overruns. This quiet opening reflected the frustration the construction had caused in the neighborhood.
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