Skywalk Dedication, September 28, 2007

Frank and Florence Sklar, long-time donors to Duquesne, with President Charles Dougherty at the dedication of the eight-story-high, steel-and-glass pedestrian bridge over Forbes Avenue.

The Frank and Florence Sklar Skywalk connects Duquesne’s upper campus and the Forbes Parking Garage with the new multipurpose recreation center, which will be known as the Power Center.

Frank Sklar was born in 1921, the year that Duquesne started to build its campus. “And now a new era begins, as the University solidifies its presence across Forbes Avenue to better serve its students, the Uptown neighborhood and the entire city of Pittsburgh,” said President Charles J. Dougherty at the ceremony. “The generosity of Frank and Florence Sklar has made this bridge between the old and the new possible. The skywalk we dedicate in their name serves more than the obvious practical purpose. It stands as a testament to Duquesne’s continuing growth and its central place in the life of our community and our region.”

The skywalk, Dougherty said, “is quintessentially Pittsburgh: a bridge in the city of bridges, made of steel and glass in a city that brought steel and glass to the world. … In the spirit of its namesakes, it will attract and inspire photographers for generations to come.”

The Sklar Skywalk and the Power Center are scheduled to open in January 2008. The Power Center is named after Rev. William Patrick Power, who was the first rector at Duquesne from 1878 to 1885.

Some facts about the towering Sklar Skywalk:

Height above road: 80 feet

Span length: 138 feet

Construction began: April 2006

Construction completed: December 2006

Weight of steel used in freestanding towers and bridge: About 500,000 pounds

Materials used: Steel superstructure, metal roofing, aluminum window wall system, exposed aggregate concrete deck

Architects: WTW Architects