PARC HISTORY The U-PARC facility, located 14 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, PA, was owned and operated by Gulf Oil Corporation as the Gulf Research & Development Company (GR&DC) from 1935 to 1985.  GR&DC made notable accomplishments in petroleum exploration, production and processing, petroleum product development and testing, chemicals research and development and synthetic fuels research.  The facility was widely regarded as having one of the most advanced auto testing, pilot plant and analytical laboratories in the world. Chevron Corporation's takeover of Gulf in 1984 made the state-of-the-art GR&DC research center redundant based on Chevron's like assets and the facility was donated to the University of Pittsburgh in 1986. Pittsburgh Applied Research Corporation (PARC) was formed to operate and manage the U-PARC site and operate the Automotive and Pilot Plant Services and other startup businesses. The business now operates as PARC Technical Services, Inc. and continues to provide INDEPENDENT pilot plant testing services to clients around the world. top of page Pilot Plant Services | Client Info | Automotive | Analytical | RODA | How Can We Help? | Contact | Home 100 William Pitt Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 Phone (toll free): (800) 826-5063, Fax: (412) 826-5444 Phone: (Pittsburgh, PA): (412) 826-5024