The National Opera House was the home of the National Negro Opera Company, the first African-American opera company in the country. The Queen-Anne style building was originally constructed as a private residence in 1894 and was purchased in 1930 by Charles “Woogie” Harris. Between the 1930s-1960s, the house became known for hosting private gatherings and famous names in black society, including Joe Louis, Duke Ellington, and Roberto Clemente. During this time, it also became the headquarters for the opera, founded by Mary Cardwell Dawson, starting in 1941 (actual performances were held at different places). After Harris’s death in 1967, the house passed hands several times, and by the 1990s, sat vacant. It was listed as a City of Pittsburgh Historic Structure in 2008, and was named as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2020 by National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Our work included the building’s structural stabilization, which was nearing complete failure, and the design and permitting of the historic exterior restoration. Balancing the need for worker safety, the structural challenges of the project, significant asbestos abatement, and preservation of a significant historic structure required a high level of coordination and support until stabilization was complete.
Completion: In-Progress
Client: National Opera House
Categories: Historic Preservation, Civic & Cultural