Gulf Tower

Pittsburgh, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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ReferenceCTBUH Skyscraper Center↗

Completed in 1932, the Gulf Tower is a 44-story, 177.4-meter Art Deco skyscraper designed by Trowbridge & Livingston as headquarters for the Gulf Oil Corporation in downtown Pittsburgh. Built at a cost of $10.05 million, the structure rises prominently above the city skyline and features a distinctive crown modeled after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus in the form of a step pyramid. The building's significance extends beyond its architectural impact: as late as 1981, Gulf Oil employed 3,100 workers within its walls. The tower has weathered considerable events, including a 1974 bomb detonation on the 29th floor claimed by the Weather Underground Organization in protest of Gulf Oil's activities during Angola's war of independence, and a 2021 fire that led to temporary closure before repairs were completed. Designated a Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark in 1973, the Gulf Tower remains one of the city's most distinctive and recognizable features.