Standing nearly 30 stories above downtown Pittsburgh, Al Williams — a third-generation ironworker with 36 years of experience — is in his element.
The 54-year-old has logged roughly 70,000 hours working on countless structures around Pittsburgh. That’s included PPG Place, Consol Energy Center and the Liberty Bridge. Now he’s working on the newest addition to Pittsburgh’s skyline, the Tower at PNC Plaza.
Construction on the building began in 2012 and is expected to be completed by fall of 2015. Touted as “the world’s greenest office tower,” the 33-story building at 5th Avenue and Wood Street is expected to house offices for 2,200 employees and will serve as world headquarters for the PNC Financial Services Group.
Williams, who lives in Peters Township, Pa., has worked virtually every aspect of his job. He’s been on the raising gang, responsible for getting iron beams off the ground and into the air, and on the bolt-up gang, tasked with connecting those beams with heavy duty bolts. Currently he does the decking, laying down corrugated steel flooring that acts as a form for concrete.
For Williams, who can look out at the city and recall a lifetime of on-the-job memories, being an ironworker comes with its share of pride.
“You’re putting up a building so people can work,” Williams said. “It’s gotta be done, and not everybody can do it.”
Under the Keystone
Welcome to a PublicSource feature, Under the Keystone, that features profiles of interesting people throughout the state.
Read more about the project >>
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Standing nearly 30 stories above downtown Pittsburgh, Al Williams — a third-generation ironworker with 36 years of experience — is in his element.
The 54-year-old has logged roughly 70,000 hours working on countless structures around Pittsburgh. That’s included PPG Place, Consol Energy Center and the Liberty Bridge. Now he’s working on the newest addition to Pittsburgh’s skyline, the Tower at PNC Plaza.
Construction on the building began in 2012 and is expected to be completed by fall of 2015. Touted as “the world’s greenest office tower,” the 33-story building at 5th Avenue and Wood Street is expected to house offices for 2,200 employees and will serve as world headquarters for the PNC Financial Services Group.
Williams, who lives in Peters Township, Pa., has worked virtually every aspect of his job. He’s been on the raising gang, responsible for getting iron beams off the ground and into the air, and on the bolt-up gang, tasked with connecting those beams with heavy duty bolts. Currently he does the decking, laying down corrugated steel flooring that acts as a form for concrete.
For Williams, who can look out at the city and recall a lifetime of on-the-job memories, being an ironworker comes with its share of pride.
“You’re putting up a building so people can work,” Williams said. “It’s gotta be done, and not everybody can do it.”
Under the Keystone
Welcome to a PublicSource feature, Under the Keystone, that features profiles of interesting people throughout the state.
Read more about the project >>
