YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – What could be the world’s largest painting of a penguin will soon grace the wall of a downtown building.

A mural of Pete the Penguin, the mascot and logo for Youngstown State University sports teams, will be painted on a west-facing wall of the Gallagher Building.

The painting will be about 35 feet in height. It will overlook the courtyard of The Varsity Club bar and restaurant, which is on the first floor of the apartment building, and be highly visible to motorists on West Commerce Street.

Muralist Patrick McGlone could not estimate when he would begin painting the logo.

The city’s design review committee approved the project at its monthly meeting Tuesday, provided the building owner can demonstrate that YSU has granted approval for use of the logo. McGlone assured the committee that the Varsity Club and building owner Brian Angelilli have the university’s permission and will produce written documentation for the committee.

“[The Varsity Club] has partnered with YSU and has the license to use the logo,” McGlone said. The Varsity Club is owned and operated by John Rudy.

McGlone addressed concerns from committee members that the mural could open the door to other building owners wanting to add similar murals that are not as appropriate.

Pete the Penguin, he pointed out, is not a corporate brand name, but rather a beloved symbol of the university and the city.

“Pete is in a class of his own,” McGlone said.

A second painting project at the Gallagher Building was also approved Tuesday.

McGlone will repaint the word “Gallagher’s” near the top of a south-facing wall visible from Hazel Street.

The word is part of a faded sign, at least a hundred years old, that identified the building as Gallagher’s Wholesale Liquor Store. The final three words will not be painted, McGlone explained, so as to not falsely imply that the store still exists.

“We might add the word ‘apartments’ instead,” he said.

McGlone said he will paint the word using methods to make it look aged and weathered.

Pictured at top: This altered photo shows the proposed mural of Pete the Penguin on a wall of the Gallagher Building.