PITTSBURGH - Since its construction in 1984, the soaring main tower of PPG Place, designed by acclaimed architect Philip Johnson and his partner John Burgee, has been known the world over not just for its distinctive exterior glass design with the majestic rooftop spires, but also for the glass "see through" walls separating every room inside, even the bathrooms. For decades, persons of prurient and exhibitionist dispositions have sought employment in the so-called crystal palace hoping to -- er -- see or be seen. But all that's about to change. The building's management has started to cover over the see-through bathroom walls to respond to "numerous complaints about lack of privacy." Some PPG Place employees aren't happy about it.
Bradleys Roadhouse, President and CEO of PPG Industries Inc. and an avowed exhibitionist said in a rare interview that he is ready to call it a career and cash in on his lucrative "golden parachute" retirement package. "There's no reason for me to stay here if I can't show off my [tallywacker]," Roadhouse said bluntly. "They're taking all the glamour, all the sizzle out of PPG Place, and we can thank the priggish old maids for that. If Philip Johnson were alive, they'd never get away with this, trust me. Maybe if those old hens ever had access to a [tallywacker] they wouldn't blush and recoil at the very sight of it."
