Gulf Tower

The Gulf Tower is a 44-story skyscraper in downtown Pittsburgh that rises 582 feet (177 meters) into the air. The stepped pyramid at the top is made of Indiana limestone and granite, giving the building its recognizable appearance.

Gulf Oil Corporation opened its headquarters in this building in 1932 and employed over 3,000 staff in the office floors until 1981. After the company moved out, the building was renovated and has since housed other tenants.

The name comes from the Gulf Oil Corporation, which used the building as its headquarters and anchored its identity in the city skyline. Today, different companies work in the offices, while the pyramid-shaped crown has remained a recognizable landmark.

The building sits in the central business district and is visible from several main streets, making orientation easy. Visitors can view the exterior facade and the lit crown from street level, as the interior is mainly commercial space.

The LED weather beacon at the top displays information about temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind speed through different colored lights. This system makes the building a functional element of the cityscape at night, conveying weather information visible from far away.

Location: Pittsburgh

Inception: 1932

Architects: Trowbridge & Livingston

Architectural style: Art Deco

Floors above the ground: 44

Elevators: 15

GPS coordinates: 40.44250,-79.99528

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27