Washington Education Center (Pittsburgh)

Washington Education Center is a former vocational school in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Lawrenceville at 40th Street and Eden Way.

Washington Education Center
Address
169 40th St.

,
15216

Information
TypePublic
EstablishedSeptember 1, 1937[1]
Closed2006
School districtPittsburgh Public Schools
Grades912
Website40.4695°N 79.9628°W / 40.4695; -79.9628
Washington Vocational School
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1908
ArchitectCharles W. Bier, Marion M. Steen
Architectural styleLate Victorian, Art Deco
Part ofLawrenceville Historic District[2] (ID100004020)
MPSPittsburgh Public Schools TR
NRHP reference No.86002715[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 30, 1986
Designated CPJuly 8, 2019
Designated PHLF2002[4]

Washington Polytechnic Academy was located on the former site of Washington Elementary School, which had a history spanning from 1868 until 1935. Originally named Washington Number One, the school was named in honor of George Washington's crossing of the Allegheny River with Christopher Gist. A marker on the school notes the event. A structure was constructed on the site in 1908 and in 1936 was expanded to form the Washington Trade School. The Charles W. Bier designed structure opened on September 1, 1937.[1] From 1937 until the early 21st century it served as a public vocational school[5] capable of accommodating 900 students and included a testing laboratory, bricklaying shop, print shop, library, two drafting rooms, blue print shop, mimeograph room, and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 384.

On February 2, 1972 Julie Nixon Eisenhower visited the school during her fathers re-election campaign to discuss busing.[6] In May 1972, an international contingent of students visited the center from Brazil, Thailand, South Korea, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Afghanistan, and Libya.[7]

The school building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[3] The building was used as a school until 2006 and later sold with plans to be converted to a hotel.[8] It opened in 2019 as the TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh/Lawrenceville, with 108 guest rooms and two restaurants.[9]

References

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