CITY BUILDING INSPECTOR’S PLANS & DRAWINGS COLLECTION

A database of architectural plans, drawings, and specifications of buildings in the city of Erie, totaling 3,000 entries is now available to the research public including property owners, architects, students and other interested parties. The collection spans 1912-1998 and represents architects from the region and neighboring states. These historical documents, on loan from the City of Erie, Pennsylvania’s Building Inspector’s Office at City Hall, provide an interesting story of a northwestern Pennsylvania city’s built environment.

Plans and drawings of 385 properties from this collection have been preserved and indexed thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (2000-2001). Researchers will benefit from easier access to information on the construction or renovation of the structures in this collection. Dennis Miller, City Building Inspector, The Erie Engineering Council’s Preservation Committee and the PHMC have played major roles in preserving the entire collection. John B. Pellegrino, RIDG-U-RAK Shelving of North East, PA, has donated a significant number of specially designed shelving units to house and support this rapidly growing collection.