William S. Moorhead Federal Building, Federal skyscraper in downtown Pittsburgh, United States
The William S. Moorhead Federal Building is a 23-story concrete and glass high-rise located on Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh. The structure was designed to house multiple federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, Veterans Administration, and a regional CIA office, consolidating government operations that were previously scattered across the city.
The building was completed in 1964 and replaced a Greyhound bus station that previously occupied the site. Its construction was part of a broader federal effort to bring together government offices that had been scattered across different locations in the city.
The building reflects how federal government work was organized during the 1960s through its modernist design and substantial size. Its presence on Liberty Avenue shows how American cities redesigned their downtowns to accommodate expanded government operations during that era.
The building is a large, easily recognizable concrete structure on Liberty Avenue with multiple entrances for public access. Visitors should expect security screening when entering and plan ahead to locate the specific federal agency they need to visit.
The structure was named in 1980 in honor of retiring Representative William S. Moorhead through special federal legislation. This decision drew criticism at the time because naming federal buildings after departing officials was considered unusual and raised questions about appropriate naming practices.
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