About the Project
Originally created in 1955 as the first public space built atop a parking garage, Mellon Square is a Modernist masterpiece and a downtown Pittsburgh landmark. Designed during the city’s 1950s Renaissance by Simonds & Simonds (landscape architects) and Mitchell & Ritchey (architects), the Square was envisioned as a green oasis in the heart of the Golden Triangle—one that would both complement the surrounding architecture and offer a welcoming civic space. As one of the oldest surviving parks built over a parking garage, Mellon Square is also recognized as one of the nation’s earliest “green roofs.”
Following a $10 million comprehensive restoration, Mellon Square reopened to the public in May 2014, reclaiming its role as a vibrant urban refuge for workers, residents, and visitors while supporting economic growth in downtown Pittsburgh. The project carefully restored the Square’s defining features, including its iconic fountains, terrazzo paving, and dramatic nighttime lighting, while introducing a rich and diverse landscape of plantings. Enhancements expanded public access with a new terrace over Smithfield Street—adding 15% more public space—and strengthened the park’s edges with an interpretive wall and illuminated sign band that share the history of the Square and Pittsburgh’s Renaissance era. Streetscape improvements along Smithfield Street, including new curbing, planters, benches, trash receptacles, and refreshed storefronts, further reconnected the park to the surrounding city.
The restoration was made possible through collaboration among the City of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Parking Authority, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, The Cultural Landscape Foundation, and the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. To ensure the Square remains a high-quality public space for generations to come, a dedicated maintenance fund was established as part of the project.
