In early 2016, I ventured to the remains of Universal Atlas Cement, a former cement plant in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania. It opened in 1906.

Work to modernize the Universal Atlas Plant began in 1953, which continued on until 1972.

United States Steel, the owner of the plant, announced drastic cutbacks at 16 plants affecting 13,000 workers on November 27, 1979. Included in the notice was Universal Atlas Cement, impacting 180 employees.

Aerials showed the plant derelict by 1993 and partially demolished by 2005. It's been in an idled state with the general offices, a set of silos and the slag dump remaining intact.








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i love this post, stunning shots, especially the office building

UACC is my favorite local spot! I've gotten some good shots there, and if you can catch a nice Fall day, it's a good place to sit and relax. No one's gonna bother back there, aside from the occasional other explorer or people riding ATVs over the hill.

Just don't scare the frogs.


By the way, I like your work, in particular how you write so extensively about the history of abandonments, and how they become what they are today.
Such as the partial demo done at UACC due to the bankruptcies of different players and other little incidents like the Colombian company that ran off with equipment.

This post is pretty awesome. The history you added is right up my alley too, and I appreciate people who care to add that in. Wonderful shots.

Thank you, all. I slacked on posting for years so I hope to post more in the near future.