Marion M. Steen was a Pittsburgh-based architect

Architect

An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...

 associated with a number of schools in the area.

Early life and work

Steen was born the son of James Steen (died 1923), a notable Pittsburgh based architect. Along with his brother, James H. Steen, he joined his father in the family architectural firm, James T. Steen & Sons, while still in his teens. He graduated in 1908 from Carnegie Tech. He served as Staff Architect and Superintendent of Buildings for Pittsburgh's School Board during the 1930s, and designed and supervised the building of 23 schools and additions. He retired in 1954.

Works

A number of his works designated as Pittsburgh Landmarks and some are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

.His NRHP-listed works include Allegheny High School

Allegheny High School

The Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1904. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.The building is now the Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8, a magnet school located in the North Side.-External links:*...

 (1904), Letsche Elementary School

Letsche Elementary School

The Letsche Elementary School located in the Crawford–Roberts neighborhood of in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1905. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....

 (1905), Washington Vocational School

Washington Vocational School

The Washington Vocational School in the Central Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1908. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....

 (1908), Knoxville Junior High School

Knoxville Junior High School

The Knoxville Junior High School in the Knoxville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1927. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987....

 (1927), Prospect Junior High and Elementary School

Prospect Junior High and Elementary School

The Prospect Junior High and Elementary School in the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1931. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986....

 (1931), Arsenal Junior High School

Arsenal Junior High School

The Arsenal Junior High School in the Lower Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a building from 1932. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.-External links:*...

 (1931), Conroy Junior High School , Lemington Elementary School

Lemington Elementary School

The Lemington Elementary School in the Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1937. Portions of the exterior are ornamented with terracotta, and feature Mayan-inspired motifs such as an amber sunburst frieze and stylized human faces. It was listed on...

 (1937) and Schiller Elementary School

Schiller Elementary School

The Schiller Elementary School in the East Allegheny neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is a building from 1939. The school is still in use today, as part of the Pittsburgh Public School System, and is known as Schiller Classical Academy. It was listed on the National Register of Historic...

 (1939).The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation described his work on the latter, located on the Peralta and Wettach Streets in East Dutchtown, as "a fine essay in the use of deep-red textured brickwork, laid to produce zigzag Modernistic ornament."Other notable buildings include Concord Elementary School

Concord Elementary School (Pittsburgh)

Concord Elementary School located at 2340 Brownsville Road in the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was built in 1939. It was designed by Marion M. Steen in Georgian Revival and Moderne style...

 (1939, in the Carrick

Carrick (Pittsburgh)

Carrick is a south neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is served by two zip codes, 15210 and 15227, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 4 with a part in District 3.Located between the suburbs of the South Hills and...

 neighborhood of Pittsburgh), Stevens Elementary School

Stevens Elementary School

Stevens Elementary School located at 824 Crucible Street in the Elliott neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was built in 1939. The school was designed by Marion M. Steen in Art Deco style...

 (1940, in the Elliott

Elliott (Pittsburgh)

Elliott is a small, hilly neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's West End Region. Elliott is represented on the Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 2 , and uses the zip code 15220.-History:...

 neighborhood of Pittsburgh), the Washington Polytechnic Academy (Washington School) in Lawrenceville

Lawrenceville

Lawrenceville is the name of several places in the United States:*Lawrenceville, former name of Alleene, Arkansas*Lawrenceville, Georgia*Lawrenceville, Illinois*Lawrenceville, Indiana*Lawrenceville, New Jersey**The Lawrenceville School*Lawrenceville, Ohio...

 and the Weil Technology Institute (1942).