Description

Mellon Square, which opened in 1955, is the first modern garden plaza to be built atop a parking garage, and its design makes it a forerunner of today’s rooftop gardens. It was designed by landscape architect John Ormsbee Simonds along with his frequent collaborators, architects Mitchell and Ritchey. Simonds, who was based in Pittsburgh, intended Mellon Square to be an oasis in the city that was beautiful, functional, and lively. Today’s Mellon Square has faded somewhat, with cracks, corrosion, and dying trees becoming standard sights. The park feels rundown, even though it still attracts many visitors. The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy is leading an effort to return Mellon Square to its intended design and restore its vibrancy as a public space. We are working alongside the City of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, and the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation to address the needs of both the park and its users and keep Mellon Square vibrant for years to come. All plantings will reflect the design intent of John Simonds’ 1955 plan while using the best contemporarily available plant selections. We have excellent information on plant failures of the past at Mellon Square, and will be using a variety of tools to solve those earlier problems, such as constructed soils and irrigation and drainage systems.

Mellon Square opened in 1955 as the first modern garden plaza to be built atop a parking garage. On Monday, June 13, 2011, the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy begins phase one of our project to restore this historic landmark.