Hotel Lafayette

Hotel Lafayette, also known as the Lafayette Hotel, is a historic hotel building located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York.

For hotels with a similar name, see Lafayette Hotel (disambiguation).
Hotel Lafayette
Hotel Lafayette, May 2015
Location391 Washington St., Buffalo, New York
Coordinates42°53′4″N 78°52′22″W
Area0.86 acres (0.35 ha)
Built1902
ArchitectBethune, Bethune & Fuchs (1902–1912); Esenwein and Johnson (1913–1937); and Roswell E. Pfohl / Design Inc. (1942 lobby)
Architectural styleFrench Renaissance
NRHP reference No.10000555[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 19, 2010

History and features

It is a seven-story steel frame and concrete building designed in the French Renaissance style. It is composed of several rectangular building units completed between 1902 and 1926. It features decorative vitreous red brick and white terra cotta trim. The hotel is the masterpiece of Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856–1913), the first professional woman architect in the United States.

The original building was designed by the firm of Bethune, Bethune & Fuchs and built between 1902 and 1911. Additions from 1916–1917 and 1924–1926 were completed by Esenwein and Johnson. The lobby was decorated in 1942 in the Art Moderne style.[2] In its prime, the Lafayette Hotel was considered one of the 15 finest hotels in the country. Besides elevators, every room featured hot and cold water and a telephone. A 97 m (318 ft) antenna is attached to the building. From September 29 to December 19, 1953 it was home to the short-lived television station WBES-TV.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.[1]

2012 renovation
The building before renovation, 2009

In 2012, the completion of a $35 million rehabilitation project restored the hotel to its original beauty. The hotel now contains 92 one & two bedroom apartments, 57 hotel rooms, several bars, restaurants and banquet facilities. The renovation was conducted by Buffalo property developer Rocco Termini, along with architect Jonathan Morris and his team at Carmina Wood Morris PC.[3][4]

References
  1. "National Register of Historic Places". WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 8/16/10 THROUGH 8/20/10. National Park Service. 2010-08-27.
  2. "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on 2015-07-01. Retrieved 2016-07-01. Note: This includes Martin Wachadlo; Frank Kowsky; Daniel McEneny (June 2010). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hotel Lafayette" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-01. and Accompanying 14 photographs
  3. Hotel Lafayette Shines Archived 2010-11-27 at the Wayback Machine. buffalorising.com, accessed November 24, 2010.
  4. Work to start this month on Hotel Lafayette makeover. buffalonews.com, accessed August 31, 2010.
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