Who designed the Plaza Hotel in New York City? The Plaza Hotel was designed by Henry Hardenbergh, the architect of the Dakota apartment building. The Plaza opened in 1907 and was initially intended as a residential hotel.
The Plaza has featured many films and television shows set in New York City, including The Odd Couple, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Sleepless in Seattle, Elf, The First Wives Club, and The Plaza Suite. The hotel is currently owned by Anbang Insurance Group, a Chinese conglomerate.
Who was Harry Hardenbergh?
Hardenbergh was born in 1847 in Pennsylvania.
He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He began his career working for various architects in Philadelphia and New York City. In 1873, he opened his architectural firm. He designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Dakota Apartments, the Waldorf Astoria, and the Plaza Hotel.
He died in 1928.
What is the Plaza Hotel used for?
The Plaza has a long and storied history. In its early years, the hotel was a favorite among the rich and famous, including the Astors, the Vanderbilts, and the Rockefellers. The Plaza was also the site of many important events, such as the wedding of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and the United Nations General Assembly.
Donald Trump, who built Trump Tower 5 years earlier for $300m, bought the hotel for $407m in March 1988.
Today, the Plaza is owned by a Saudi Arabian prince and is operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. The hotel has undergone a number of renovations and is now a luxury hotel once again. The Plaza offers guests a number of amenities, including a spa, a fitness center, and a business center. The hotel also has a number of restaurants, including the famed Palm Court.
Founder of WhoDesignToday.com in 2011 as a design blog and now reinvented as an open-source community answering questions of who designed what. Gareth is an avid fan of history, design, technology, and reading.
