Pittsburghs look wont be the same after architect Carloughs passing

Architects are considered young at 40.

With five to eight years of schooling plus apprenticeship at one or more established firms, architects are most often in their 30s before they begin to practice alone.

They are, then, in their 40s by the time they establish a name and an independent reputation.

It was that way for the outstanding Pittsburgh architect Gary Carlough, who died suddenly two weeks ago at the age of 62 at a point in his career where he was looking forward to another 10 or 15 years of creative work.

Carlough was the founder of EDGE Studio, which produced the most exciting architecture in the city in recent years.

He started EDGE in 1995 at the age of 43, and the studio has won scores of awards for its inventively modern architecture since. EDGE, for example, wins something almost every year in the local American Institute of Architecture awards, judged by panels of architects from other cities. Just three years ago, EDGE took three of the nine top awards.

In a city where many architects today put up tame buildings in a devolved postmodern style, EDGE's buildings have always been conspicuous for their originality.

Carlough, in person, was affable and enthusiastic with an earnestness leavened with good humor. Bespectacled and modest, he had no need for personal flamboyance.

His buildings, however, always stand out.

In association with Pfaffmann + Associates, EDGE did the new T-Station at Gateway Center, that long and low faceted glass canopy that is the only recent piece of world-class architecture in the city. Two blocks up Liberty Avenue, he did what is called the Lantern Building, the small structure across from Heinz Hall Park that has a translucent skin that glows in soft colors at night.

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Pittsburghs look wont be the same after architect Carloughs passing