Portal Bridge Picnic: a celebration of modernist design at Point State Park

601 Commonwealth Place,Pittsburgh PA 15222

09 October, 2021

Description

PORTAL BRIDGE PICNIC: Join the Pittsburgh Modern Committee for our outdoor celebration of modernist design at Point State Park! We invite you to join us on Saturday October 9th - as part of Docomomo US National Tour Day 2021 highlighting architecture & design aspects of travel & leisure at mid-20th century - for Portal Bridge Picnic, an outdoor celebration of modernist design at Pittsburgh's beloved Point State Park. Enjoy a walkabout, conversation, and refreshments with members of the Pittsburgh Modern Committee highlighting design context and details of the Portal Bridge (historically known as the Gateway Portal, 1963, Stotz brothers with Gordon Bunshaft/SOM ) and the surrounding Point State Park - opened in 1974 and a National Historic Landmark within the Pittsburgh Renaissance Historic District. Presented with the challenge of integrating a pedestrian connection between Point State Park and Downtown, beneath an 8-lane highway-interchange, Pittsburgh architects the Stotz brothers responded with an elongated arch and walkway. Simple, soft, and elegant to the eye, but involving complex engineering and crafted of reinforced concrete, the 1963 vaulted portal invites an open view toward Gateway Center. Gordon Bunshaft, architect with SOM, amongst others, consulted on the design. Registration required - $15 per guest - Proceeds support the reserach & advocacy work of the Pittsburgh Modern Committee 4pm - Meet near Point State Park (guests will be provided the meeting place in advance) for a walk-through Gateway Portal Bridge, exploring site history and design features. 5pm - Gather in the meadow of Point State Park for modern design chat and snacks! THE FIRST 4 REGISTRATIONS RECEIVE A HAND-PULLED ORIGINAL SCREENPRINT of the PORTAL BRIDGE part of Pittsburgh Modern Prints, a series by Buildings by Shane in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Modern Committee. Questions? Reach out at [email protected]