Designed in 1951 by Harrison and Abramovitz, the 525 William Penn Place office tower had, in the decades since, become an anonymous presence in downtown Pittsburgh. Across a series of renovations occurring between the 1960s to the 2000s, the original mid-century modernist design intent was obfuscated and, in some cases, outright eliminated. In the repositioning of this building, the vision focused around improving the strongest visual aspects of the original design, enhancing the most prominent public spaces, removing the dated elements, and updating with modern amenities.

Rooted in the patterns, textures, materials, and finishes prevalent in the mid-century modern movement, the updated lobby pays homage to the rich history of modernist architecture in Pittsburgh. A new 25-foot-tall glass enclosure carefully weaves new and existing elements together at the street level, while borrowing the classic façade of a neighboring historic building to extend the historic context of Pittsburgh into the lobby. In doing so, the project attracts new life to the central business district, activates the surrounding streetscape, and improves the wellbeing of its interior occupants.