Hotel Lafayette, Buffalo Reopens After Renovation

Our family stayed at this hotel in the 1960's when we made the trip to the then exciting big city of Buffalo, N.Y.

The hotel has recently reopened with 115 apts. and a 50 room boutique hotel. I mention it here because it appears similar to the goal for the David Whitney Building. They really did a tremendous job restoring the historical aspects of the interior. Obviously the building was not near as far gone as the Book or Shelby hotels.

There are other photos available if you google but this link provides some good ones.

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&...G0l5Wlap2T7Rlw

The linked article mentions a lot of space going for pubs and receptions. The David Whitney won't have room for that. In addition, I hope they don't do much with the building itself as it is really an architectural marvel the way it is. The building was built by Burnham's firm, the same planner/architect firm that gave Chicago its noted park system and the city beautiful movement.

Here are some shots that show the after, as well as a few before and after.
http://www.buffalorising.com/2012/05...lafayette.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

In addition, I hope they don't do much with the building itself as it is really an architectural marvel the way it is. The building was built by Burnham's firm, the same planner/architect firm that gave Chicago its noted park system and the city beautiful movement.

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Well from what's been mentioned, they are planning on restoring the exterior to the way it looked [[or some semblence thereof). In a Youtube video of the 1959 Detroit World Premier of the movie "Anatomy of a Murder", they showed the stars parading in convertibles around GCP, and there was scaffolding all over the David Whitney Building... so for once we can exactly pinpoint one of the "regrettable" remodeling jobs that "modernized" so much of downtown.

The atrium area doesn't need a remodeling job... but I don't much care for the lightwell in the building... it would be nicer if they moved the fancy skylight from the top of the 4 story lobby arcade... to the top of the 18 story building. and have each hotel and residential hallways opened up to the grand lobby in a fashion similar to this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brownpalace2.JPG

Just my 2 cents...

I've seen similar treatments where the offices on the upper floors of old arcades have been turned into hotel rooms. Cleveland has two such hotels. The Hyatt went into the Grand Arcade while Residence Inn went into the old Colonial Arcade/Hotel [[truely one of the first mixed use buildings)
http://allthingsclevelandohio.blogsp...r-arcades.html