Iron City Brewery | A Project Documentary by McKim & Creed
TLDRThe Iron City Brewery documentary by McKim & Creed tells the story of the Pittsburgh Brewing Company, founded in 1861 by Frauenheim and Vilsack, and known for its Iron City lager. Todd Zwicker, the company's president, shares his lifelong connection to Pittsburgh and the brand. The project, initiated in March 2020, transformed a historic glass factory into a modern brewery, aiming to engage the community and showcase the region's heritage. The renovation uncovered and restored the building's original beauty, with a focus on aesthetics and functionality. The brewery's design accommodates brewers, visitors, and the beer production process, creating a multifaceted experience. Lighting was strategically implemented to enhance the historical architecture and highlight the brewing equipment. The project's success lies in its unique blend of old and new, with plans for future expansion, including a craft distillery, restaurant, marina, and outdoor entertainment, positioning the site as a destination. The engineering and system upgrades ensure a high-quality, consistent product, with capacity for growth. The documentary emphasizes Iron City Beer's deep roots in Pittsburgh's culture and the pride of those involved in its revival.
Takeaways
- 🍺 The Pittsburgh Brewing Company was founded in 1861 by two gentlemen, Frauenheim and Vilsack, and Iron City lager was their main beer.
- 🏭 The new brewery is housed in a building that was originally an old glass factory from 1883, which has been repurposed and restored.
- 👷 Todd Zwicker, the president of Pittsburgh Brewing Company, has been part of the project since its inception in March 2020.
- 🔨 The project involved significant construction, including building walls and pouring concrete, and was completed in a short time despite challenges.
- 🧱 The building's aesthetics were a key focus, with efforts to preserve and restore the original brick and steel, creating a traditional factory feel.
- 🤝 The project had to accommodate three clients: the brewers, visitors, and the beer itself, each with their own needs for movement and access.
- 💡 The lighting design aimed to highlight the brew vessels and blend seamlessly with the architecture without detracting from the building's historical beauty.
- 🚰 Advanced engineering in the new system has led to better output, more consistent, and higher quality beer production.
- 📈 The brewery has plans for expansion, including a craft distillery, restaurant, marina, and outdoor entertainment, aiming to become a destination place.
- ⚙️ The systems are designed with generous capacity, including two transformers rated at 10,500 KVA, allowing for future growth and additional projects.
- 🏙️ Iron City Beer is deeply ingrained in Pittsburgh's culture and identity, with many residents, including the project's engineers, having personal connections to the brand.
Q & A
In what year was the Pittsburgh Brewing Company established?
-The Pittsburgh Brewing Company was established in 1861.
What was the main beer produced by the Pittsburgh Brewing Company at the time of its founding?
-The main beer produced was Iron City lager, which was the first lager in the Pittsburgh area and one of the first in Western Pennsylvania.
Who is Todd Zwicker and what is his role in the company?
-Todd Zwicker is the president of Pittsburgh Brewing Company and has been a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh.
When did the project to transform the old glass factory into a new brewery start?
-The project started around March of 2020.
What was the original purpose of the facility before it became a brewery?
-The facility was originally an old glass factory, specifically known as PPG number 1, dating back to 1883.
What was the primary goal of the new brewery project?
-The primary goal was to make the brewery relevant and supportive of the hometown region, giving people a reason to engage with it.
How did the transformation of the old glass factory into a brewery affect the building's aesthetics?
-The transformation involved removing layers of paint to reveal beautiful brick and steel, which were then restored to create a traditional factory facility that serves as a showpiece.
What challenges did the project team face in terms of the building's historical significance?
-The team had to balance the need to maintain the historical beauty of the building with the requirements of modern brewing operations, ensuring that the lighting and systems were visually pleasing and accessible.
How did the project team approach the lighting design for the new brewery?
-The team aimed to create different layers of lighting that would be functional for the brewers, visitors, and the beer itself, using lighting that complemented the architecture without drawing attention away from the building's historical features.
What are the future plans for the Pittsburgh Brewing Company's site?
-The company plans to expand the site into a destination place with a craft distillery, a restaurant, a marina, an outdoor venture, music entertainment, and a pavilion for outside seating.
How does the capacity of the systems installed in the new brewery compare to a typical household's electrical needs?
-The systems are designed with generous capacity, featuring two transformers rated at 10,500 KVA, which is significantly higher than the average household's use of about five KVA.
What is the significance of Iron City Beer in Pittsburgh's culture?
-Iron City Beer is deeply ingrained in Pittsburgh's culture, often associated with the city's identity alongside the Pirates, Steelers, and Heinz Ketchup. It holds a nostalgic value for many residents, including the project's participants.
Outlines
🏭 Founding and Transformation of Pittsburgh Brewing Company
The Pittsburgh Brewing Company was established in 1861 by two gentlemen, Frauenheim and Vilsack, with Iron City lager as its main beer. Todd Zwicker, the president of the company, discusses his lifelong connection to Pittsburgh and the brand's deep roots in Western Pennsylvania. The script details the transformation of an old glass factory from 1883 into a modern brewery, emphasizing the goal of remaining relevant and supportive of the local region. Zwicker shares his personal experience of being employed at the site when it was a PPG glass plant and how the building's unique character has been preserved and enhanced. The project's focus was on aesthetics, turning a disrepair facility into a showpiece by restoring its original brick and steel, and creating a functional and visually appealing space for brewers, visitors, and the beer production process. The lighting design aimed to highlight the brew vessels without detracting from the building's historical beauty.
📈 Engineering and Future Expansion of the Brewery
The second paragraph delves into the technical and engineering aspects of the new brewery system, emphasizing the improvements made over the years to achieve better output, consistent, and high-quality products. The engineering advancements are highlighted as a significant upgrade from the old system. The company's vision extends beyond the brewery to include a craft distillery, a restaurant, a marina, and an outdoor venture, aiming to create a destination place rather than just a manufacturing operation. The capacity of the systems has been designed to be generous, allowing for future expansion, as evidenced by the two transformers with a capacity that could power a small city. The speaker expresses excitement about the brewery becoming an attraction and shares personal anecdotes about the significance of Iron City Beer in Pittsburgh's culture and his own life. The engineering firm, McKim & Creed, is honored to be part of the project, and the speaker, Ray, humorously emphasizes the hands-on nature of their work.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Iron City Brewery
💡Pittsburgh Brewing Company
💡Todd Zwicker
💡PPG glass
💡Brewery Aesthetics
💡Showpiece
💡Restoration
💡Engineering
💡Craft Distillery
💡Destination Place
💡McKim & Creed
Highlights
In 1861, the Pittsburgh Brewing Company was founded by two gentlemen, Frauenheim and Vilsack, with Iron City lager as their main beer.
Iron City lager was the first lager in the Pittsburgh area and one of the first in Western Pennsylvania.
Todd Zwicker, president of Pittsburgh Brewing Company, has been a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh and has seen the brand's significance in the region.
The project to revitalize the brewery started in March 2020, transforming an old glass factory into a modern brewery.
The new brewery aims to remain relevant and supportive of the hometown region, providing a reason for people to engage with the brand.
The building, originally a glass plant from 1883, is considered one of the coolest pieces of the brewery.
The project was unique, involving building walls and pouring concrete while running equipment, and was completed in a short time despite challenges.
The speaker previously worked at the site when it was a PPG glass plant and appreciates the transformation to a brewery.
The main role for the project was to bring aesthetics to the brewery, turning a facility in complete disrepair into a showpiece.
The building's historical elements, such as beautiful brick and steel, were restored, contributing to its unique aesthetic.
The project had to consider the needs of three clients: the brewers, visitors, and the beer itself, ensuring smooth flow for all.
The vision for the site includes creating layers of lighting that would function well for the brewery's future plans.
The historical building was lit in a way that complements its beauty without detracting from it.
The brew vessels were strategically highlighted to align with the windows, showcasing the brewery's activities to the outside world.
The project's scale and the mix of systems made it a unique challenge, with all systems designed to be transparent and visually pleasing.
The engineering of the new system is a significant improvement over the old, leading to better output and more consistent, high-quality products.
Expansion plans include a craft distillery, a restaurant, a marina, and an outdoor venture with music and a pavilion for outside seating.
The systems have been designed with generous capacity to allow for future increases in production.
The site's transformers have a capacity that could power a small city, with ample extra capacity for future projects.
Pittsburgh Brewing Company aims to make the site an attraction, with the speaker expressing excitement to visit with his family.
Iron City Beer is deeply ingrained in Pittsburgh's culture, with the speaker sharing personal anecdotes about its significance in his life.
As engineers, the team at McKim & Creed is honored to be part of the project, taking pride in addressing technical challenges.