PITTSBURGH
The new Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown is now open after two years of renovation and preservation.
Located in the Federal Reserve Bank building, the hotel features 207 guest rooms and more than 4,500 square feet of event and meeting space.
The property is located in the heart of downtown close to PNC Park, the Andy Warhol Museum and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
“This is a truly unique property, and we are thrilled to bring it back to life and preserve those key elements that make these historic buildings so beautiful and unique,” said Chuck Drury, president and CEO of Drury Hotels. “We look forward to sharing our new Pittsburgh property with our guests and delivering the great experience and value they expect from the Drury Hotels brand.”
The hotel, an Art Deco building designed by prominent Cleveland architecture firm, Walker and Weeks, first opened in 1931 as home to the Pittsburgh branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland where it remained until 2012.
Many of the historic details of the property have been maintained, several rich with symbolism of the building’s past life.
For example, the three cast-aluminum figures located above the first story windows–designed in 1931 by Henry Hering of New York–represent mining, agriculture, and commerce and industry. In the front plaza, a large triangular red sculpture remains. Created by Sylvester Damianos in 1974, the piece was intended to reflect the bank’s strength. The interlocking “4” and “D” pattern of the building’s metalwork also remains a prominent feature, symbolizing the fourth of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts.
In addition, the former main banking room now houses a portion of the hotel’s public space and dining area, and the former eighth floor firing range was converted into a swimming pool. Lastly, two basement bank vaults have been converted into meeting rooms, complete with the original vault doors.
The hotel also offers many modern touches, such as a state-of-the-art fitness center and a new restaurant, the Fourth District, where guests can enjoy a casual meal, a quick bite, or a handcrafted cocktail, wine, or local craft beer.
