Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Cathedral

Churches once best expressed ethnic identity in Pittsburgh, as they did everywhere else in America, but have played a minor role in local architecture since World War II. This is one of the few postwar religious sites in Allegheny County that demands a visit, having liberated itself from denominational stereotypes while still deriving strength from architectural history. Holy Trinity uses uncompromising poured-concrete walls inside and out to evoke the ancient triconch plan of Byzantine architecture. What saves the church from being a mere pastiche of historic precedents and architectural clichés is what saved Richardson from falling into the same trap at his courthouse: a highly personalized vision coupled with the artistic authority to carry it out.