Frederick J. Osterling

Frederick John Osterling was an American architect, practicing in Pittsburgh from 1888.

Biography

Frederick J. Osterling was born to Philip and Bertha Osterling in Dravosburg, Pennsylvania, on October 4, 1865. The Osterling family moved to Allegheny City when Frederick was young. Following his schooling in Allegheny City, Osterling began work in the office of Joseph Stillburg, and was published in American Architect and Building News at age 18. Following a period of European travel, he launched his own practice in 1888. During his career he designed many prominent Pittsburgh buildings, such as the Union Trust Building. According to Martin Aurand, Architecture Librarian at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Osterling's practice faltered after controversy relating to his anticipated alteration to the landmark H.H. Richardson Allegheny County Courthouse and a public lawsuit filed by the industrialist Henry Clay Frick. Osterling's studio was in a building he designed himself in 1917 at 228 Isabella Street in Pittsburgh's North Shore neighborhood.
Some of Osterling's works are pictured in a book entitled, " F. J. Osterling Architect", Murdoch-Kerr Press, Pittsburg, 1904. The book contains about 40 plates depicting Osterling's works. These plates include views of the Washington County, Pennsylvania Court House, its portico and law library; the entrance and smoking room of the Syria Temple ; and the residences H.H. Westinghouse and other notable Western Pennsylvanians. He died on July 5, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Significant buildings designed by Osterling

All buildings are in Pittsburgh unless otherwise stated; italics denote a registered Historic Landmark:

Charles Schwab House, 1889
Heinz Company Factories, 1889
Bellefield Presbyterian Church,Westinghouse Air Brake Company General Office Building, 1889–1890
Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania Building, now Verizon Building, 1890
Marine Bank Building, later known as Fort Pitt Federal Building, 1890
Times Building, 1892Byrnes & Kiefer Building, 1892
Clayton, now the Frick Art & Historical Center, 1892 remodeling by Osterling of an 1870s house at 7200 Penn Avenue. This was the home of Henry Clay Frick, the industrialist.
First Methodist Church, now Shadyside Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1893
Chautauqua Lake Ice Company Warehouse, now the Heinz History Center, 1898Washington County Courthouse & Jail, 1899–1900
Allegheny County Morgue, built 1901Armstrong Cork Company Building, now The Cork Factory Lofts, 1901
Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Loretto, Pennsylvania, 1901
Hays Hall, a residence hall at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania, built from 1901 to 1903
Washington Trust Building, Washington, Pennsylvania, 1902
Arrott Building, 1902
Colonial Trust Company Building, now part of the Bank Center of Point Park University, 1902. Also, Osterling designed a T-shaped lobby that was added to his original building in 1926.Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls, 1903
Iroquois Apartments, now offices, 1903Allegheny County Jail, 1903-1905 additions by Osterling to the 1886 building by Henry Hobson RichardsonAllegheny High School, now Allegheny Traditional Academy, 1904
Commonwealth Trust Building, 1907Luzerne County Courthouse, 1909
Parkvale Building, 1911Union Trust Building, 1917
Gwinner-Harter House, also known as the William B. Negley House was designed by an unknown architect and built 1870–1871. However, Osterling was responsible for additions between 1912 and 1923.
Osterling Flats, date unavailable. These are three houses at 3603-3607 California Avenue with Dutch design elements, which were converted into condos by the Brighton Heights Citizens' Federation in 2003.