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Originally Posted by bmust71
Alright, I have been wondering this for the past few days: how was pittsburgh able to add 4-5 new skyscrapers in a time where our unemployement was through the roof with the collapse of the steel industry? Sorry for being off topic but i felt this would be the best place to ask.
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Pittsburgh was hardly unique with the massive 1980s skyscraper boom. The most populous and richest generation in american history (baby boomers) hit their prime working years in the 1980s (most were in their productive 30s). The stock market soared in the early to mid 80s and the nation was bursting with wealth. (Until the market correction known as the stock market crash of 1987) see movie Wall Street for the details.
Look at EVERY major city in the US especially 2nd tier cities; Their skylines are mostly defined by this era.
The companies that built towers were too successful to let the american manufacturing decline kill them. PPG: Still one of the top companies in the world in their field - Materials/Coatings (they supply the high tech paint used on new BMWs as one example) ; Financial companies are usually sound giving us the Mellon Tower & PNC towers; Oxford tower & Fifth Ave were needed for class A office space. And the current EQT tower (Dominion Tower) - Energy. Energy is always needed! (Same for our stunning 1930s Gulf Oil HQ tower - Until they moved to Houston
As did Pennzoil)