Famous local buildings open doors

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A self-described “architecture nerd,” Bonnie Baxter was living in Chicago when she happened to attend an event called Open House Chicago, which offered behind-the-scenes access to notable buildings.

“Honestly, I was so taken with the experience I thought, when we get ready to transition back to Pittsburgh, I want to bring this home,” she said. “It’s a personal passion.”

And less than a year after moving back to Pittsburgh in late 2015, she did, organizing the first Doors Open Pittsburgh in October 2016.

Now in its third year, Doors Open Pittsburgh will take place Oct. 6 and 7, with several new buildings and new tours.

New buildings this year include the Beauty Shoppe co-working space in the Pitt Building Downtown and the Allegheny Inn bed and breakfast and Katsafanas Coffee Building, both on the North Side. General admission tickets are $10 for a single day or $15 for both days. Children’s tickets are also available, for $5 per day or $10 for both days. Children ages 5 and under are free.

The tour is self-directed, with participants choosing from the list of open buildings and designing their own itineraries.

Optional insider tours range in price, from a free look at the history and people of Central Catholic High School to a $20 “Notorious Pittsburgh” tour of Downtown’s seedy past to a $40 behind-the-scenes tour of the avian hospital at the National Aviary.

For the first time this year, Doors Open Pittsburgh will also host DOP @ The Square, a Market Square event featuring booths and activities from artists, makers and vendors.

Last year, more than 5,200 people bought tickets to the event, said Ms. Baxter, who is now “living the dream” working full time as founder and executive director of Open Doors Pittsburgh.

In the past, she said, the Pittsburgh City-County Building and Downtown office buildings such as the Frick Building and the Oliver Building have been among the most popular, as well as the Boggs Mansion on the North Side.