PITTSBURGH | Three PNC Plaza | HEIGHT | 23 FLOORS

[JackStraw]

Originally Posted by qwho

Is anyone aware of a more detailed set of mock-up images of this building? I'd really like to create this in google earth. It would be a good way to visualize the completed project, as a lot of the skyline is already completed.

I looked at Gensler's website, and unfortunetely their renderings are probably the most detailed, and are the ones seen in the media paper.

What program do you use for google earth? Don't people use sketch-up?

I always wondered who the people are that create those sketch-up models. They got to have good architectural drafting knowledge.

[qwho]

Originally Posted by JackStraw

What program do you use for google earth? Don't people use sketch-up?

I always wondered who the people are that create those sketch-up models. They got to have good architectural drafting knowledge.

Yes sketchup is the application, it is very intuitive.

I created a lot of Pittsburgh, any of the ones listed as created by JVingin.

No, I don't know anything about architecture, really. You do however gain an appreciation for the creativity of the architects, though. It's all geometry at its finest. What I normally do is find a good set of pictures online for reference for the shape and for textures for the walls. Then, I use the satellite image of the base of the building as a guide for the dimensions of the base. Then I drag the basic shape all to the known height of the building, and modify it until it looks right. It is not an exact process by any means.


So, that's why I am looking for more exact details of the building's dimensions, as well as the finer aspects of its design. I can't find a picture of the back of the building, facing away from the street. It looks from the images that it is different on that side.

[JackStraw]

I worked in some architecture/Engineering firms since I was 20. Most of them all do the whole building in sketch-up now. Especially if it is a more complex design like this one. I just always assumed that they were the ones that would submit their projects after designing them.

I don't know what you do for a living. But if you can do sketch-up really well, then you could always get a job doing it at a architecture firm for a good amount of money. They are always looking for people who know autocad, and especially sketch-up.

I really don't know where you could find the back elevations. Only people at the Gensler, and Astorino probably have them.

[qwho]

You can't really compare sketchup to autocad. Sketchup is a fun tool to make simple 3d models, autocad designs things like space stations and jet fighters. I do not have the mathmatical ability required for a career in architecture, as much as it interests me.

I guess I'll have to wing it for the back side. At least there are some nice images of the sides shown for textures. I'll post it here first.

[Evergrey]

Welcome aboard, qwho! Love the avatar!

[qwho]

Thanks Evergrey!

Here is an early model of 3 PNC, for google earth.


This is the view from the best image from the press kit:


The artist's rendering view from the press kit:


And, finally, the opposite side of the building, as inferred by me, judging by the design of the front and by what we can see from the other two images.



A note on my rough calculations... I used the first 3D rendering image from the press kit. I measured the pixels from top to bottom of the closest edge, and inferred that 544 pixels = 360 ft. Then I figured out the rest of the dimensions by bringing them to that front edge that I measured. So, this is rough, but there is a bit of science to this model. Its accuracy is off by feet, I'm sure, at least in some places, as measuring an image that is relatively low resolution to begin with will not yield perfect results.

I'll add textures and indentations next.

Suggestions and comments are welcome!

[qwho]

These two are the model, now with textures:


This is the back, which we have not seen yet, completely a guess:


Here is the view from PNC park, with the model in place, in google earth:


And here is my model in the picture that was posted a few pages back:


Find it in my collection in the 3D warehouse or here: Click

[JackStraw]

qhwo, thanks for the great work. I am so glad that Pittsburgh has people who are talented with sketchup and can contribute their work on google earth to make out city look as great as it is.

Great work!

[qwho]

Thanks!

I'm glad that someone out there appreciates it.

I am really happy with the amount of people who regularly post about Pittsburgh topics on this board.


So I was able to look at that website, and there are a bunch of images there. My guess ended up being pretty close to the one picture of the back side of the building. However, it seems that the set of images is from two different designs. One has sort of a slope shape along the street, not perfectly straight, like the other one.

We are getting close to the point where we will see how this building will shape up. Construction is moving a lot faster that I thought it would.

I am going to head downtown this week and take some pictures of it, and some of the surrounding buildings, so I have some more textures to use. Finding unubstructed views of the sides of some of these buildings is tough.

[Evergrey]

while not very tall.. it appears 3 PNC will have a huge impact on the skyline due to its massive size at 752,000 sq. ft.

[Austinlee]

nice work qwho! I appreciate your effort also.

[qwho]

It is pretty obvious that PNC wanted to make their new building be very much front and center to pirate game goers.

Also, if you view it in google earth, you'll see that it dominates market square as well.

[chex]

i like those renderings, nice building..

[Burgh15]

I've been reading the board for a good while now and finally got a picture of Three PNC, so here is my first post.

Update from May 28th looking from Market Square:

[Gilamonster]

A few pics of the main attraction. You can guage the height of the Building by following
the light blue sign with "15" on it.







And finally look really close for the crane on the skyline:

[Johnland]

Originally Posted by Gilamonster

A few pics of the main attraction.

And finally look really close for the crane on the skyline:

This pic really points out something I hadn't realized. 3 PNC will have a 'broadside' angle when viewed from Mt. Washington. Most buildings, being squeezed into the tight space of downtown, have naturally formed tall and straight, like trees in a forest almost. 3 PNC, however, will run counter to the rhythm of tall, narrow buildings, and form almost a backdrop to the buildings in the foreground. It'll be interesting to see it finished.

[Gilamonster]

The narrow stone building in front of the rising 3 PNC is the Benedum-Trees Building, which is at a height of 85 meters. I believe 3 PNC is to be around 110 meters which will allow the top of the building to be seen from Mt. Washington. There should also be a nice staircase effect as the building behind it is the Dominion Tower which sits at 131 meters.

[NDPhilly]

This is good. Pitt needs more glass

[Gilamonster]

Well, there is about to be tons of it going up soon on the building. It looks very nice from the renderings but then again isn't that the point of renderings? Has anybody seen the fake masonry cladding allready going up on the lower few levels around back? I am rather disappointed. It looks tacky and cheap to me.

[qwho]

June 7th. It looks like from the rendering they are about half of the final height at this point. Still shorter than the rest of PNC, dominion, and Ariba, but it will still block any view of the blue PNC and Ariba from market square from the looks of it.

I can't help but hate that red brick building that is blocking half of the erected part from market square thus far...