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Cotton Candy Sky. Pittsburgh, 2015.

The Art of Klauder's Architectural Drawings

Philadelphia architect Charles Klauder made his mark on the University of Pittsburgh by designing three of the school’s most beautiful buildings: the Cathedral of Learning, Stephen Foster Memorial, and Heinz Chapel. The enormity and complexity of the buildings are often taken for granted by the thousands of students, faculty and staff that pass by every day, and it is all too easy to forget that each began as an idea that had to be drawn out in fine detail before it could be crafted and built. Luckily, the University Archives is home to the original architectural drawings for Klauder’s Pitt buildings, which provide in depth detail of features that passersby cannot see up close. Here is a sampling of some of the artistic skill used in the design of the University’s three most famous buildings.

This is a drawing of some of the more intricate carving required for an archway in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room.

The tracery windows of the Cathedral of Learning are detailed works of geometry and artistry.

Only a select few have been able to fully appreciate the intricacies of the Cathedral of Learning’s uppermost floors.

Even the name of the building contains artistic flourishes on Klauder’s original elevation drawing of the Cathedral of Learning.

As shown in this drawing of a portal to the shrine inside the Foster Memorial, sketches had to not only convey the design of the archway, but also what features were to pierce the stonework and not just carved into it.

This is a drawing of the main entrance portal of Heinz Chapel, but the tympanum shown here is actually less intricate than the carvings in the completed building.

The Heinz Chapel fleche reaches over 250 feet in the air, meaning the detail seen here is often overlooked.

rhiannonwrites

2.16.17 Sky High (37/100 days of productivity)

I went up to the 35th floor to do some last minute homework before one of my classes this afternoon. It snowed this morning, the kind of slow falling flakes that last for a little while when they land in your hair. It was pretty.

Today was long but after class I went straight to the library and started working on the two papers I have due tomorrow night. Some friends and I stayed there for 6 hours! I mapped out both essays and now I’m in my room writing them. Anthony (mentioned in my earlier posts) is visiting this weekend. He came to the library to hang out for a few hours and now he’s writing his book.

I hope I get to sleep at some point. Have a good night!