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Watch: As A New Building Rises In Pittsburgh, An Ironworker Looks Back

Ryan Loew
/
90.5 WESA

Standing nearly 30 stories above downtown Pittsburgh, Al Williams — a third-generation iron worker with 36 years of experience — is in his element.

The 54-year-old has logged roughly 70,000 hours working on countless structures around the city of Pittsburgh. That's included PPG Place, Consol Energy Center and the Liberty Bridge. Now he's working on the newest addition to Pittsburgh’s skyline, the Tower at PNC Plaza.

Construction on the building began in 2012 and is expected to be completed by fall of 2015. Touted as "the world’s greenest office tower," the 33-story building at 5th Avenue and Wood Street is expected to house offices for 2,200 employees and will serve as world headquarters for the PNC Financial Services Group.

For Williams, who can look out at the city and recall a lifetime of on-the-job memories, it's a matter of pride.

"You're putting up a building so people can work," Williams said. "It's gotta be done, and not everybody can do it."