Gateway Towers is one of Pittsburgh's most prominently situated residential buildings, rising at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers and visible from both Heinz Field and PNC Park. Built in the 1960s, the building is clad in light-colored marble accented with anodized steel panels. By the time Graciano was engaged, the exterior had accumulated significant soiling from decades of urban exposure, and the caulking between panels and windows had deteriorated to the point of requiring full replacement.
The project was staged across two construction seasons to coordinate with the building's residential occupancy, minimizing disruption to residents while the restoration proceeded across the full exterior envelope.
Scope of Work
Services Performed
- Cleaning of all exterior marble surfaces
- Cleaning of all anodized steel panel surfaces
- Complete removal and replacement of caulking between anodized panels and windows
- Repainting of all window frames
- Construction sequencing staged across two seasons to minimize resident impact
Marble and Anodized Panel Cleaning
The light-colored marble cladding on Gateway Towers presented a high-visibility cleaning challenge: decades of airborne soiling had darkened the facade significantly relative to the building's original appearance, and the contrast between cleaned and uncleaned areas would have been apparent from the surrounding street and riverfront. Graciano's crews worked systematically across the exterior using cleaning methods appropriate to the marble's composition and the anodized steel accents, restoring the building's original appearance while protecting both materials from damage during the process.
Cleaning the anodized steel panels required particular care to avoid stripping or damaging the anodized surface finish, which is more chemically sensitive than the stone cladding. Graciano's team selected and tested cleaning agents on the panels before proceeding, confirming compatibility with the finish before committing to the full scope.
Caulking Replacement and Window Frame Repainting
The joints between the anodized panels and window frames are the primary weatherproofing line for a curtain-wall building of this era. Graciano removed all deteriorated caulking throughout the building, prepared the joint faces, and installed new sealant matched to the profile of the original installation. Window frames were repainted across the building to complete the visual restoration and provide renewed protection for the steel substrate.
Engineer of Record Baker and Associates provided technical oversight and specification support throughout the project.
About Graciano Corporation
Founded in 1916, Graciano Corporation is one of the oldest and most experienced masonry and concrete restoration firms in the United States. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, with additional offices in New York, NY, and Florida, Graciano performs approximately 90% of all work in-house with its own skilled journeymen. The company is a WBENC-certified Woman Business Enterprise with an extensive record of residential, commercial, and landmark facade restoration projects in Pittsburgh and throughout the eastern United States.