Precast concrete played a prominent role in building the new multimillion dollar Lazarus Department Store in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The glitzy department store is four stories high with an underground three-level parking structure. Highly articulated precast concrete panels with deep reveals give the building scale and character, and also complement the nearby historic buildings. In addition, the use of granite at the base provides richness and depth of color. These features enhance the façade’s verticality and contemporary look. To speed construction, structural precast concrete columns are used in the parking structure. This article presents the conceptual and architectural design features of the building, design considerations, and erection highlights of the project.
