Chatham Center
Encyclopedia
Chatham Center is a 5.5 acre commercial and residential building complex located within Downtown Pittsburgh. It is bounded by the Interstate 579
(Crosstown Boulevard) on the west, Centre Avenue on the north, Washington Place on the east, and Fifth Avenue to the south. Comprising a 2,200 car parking garage, Marriott Hotel, luxury condominium building, and office and retail space, Chatham Center is a major destination center with the new Consol Energy Center and Duquesne University
nearby.
, for whom Pittsburgh is named. Groundbreaking for the project occurred with much fireworks and fanfare the evening of October 20, 1964. The complex was built between 1964 - 1966 by Chatham Center Inc, of which the principal investors were Morton S. Wolf
and Leon Falk Jr. Financing for construction was provided by the Irving Trust Company of New York and the Mellon
National Bank of Pittsburgh with the mortgage for the center being held by the Prudential Insurance Company. The architects for the project were William Lescaze
and Harry H. Lefkowitz while the construction was by the Diesel Construction Company of Pittsburgh.
The building plans were delayed by labor strikes and absent building materials, but was finally completed by 1966. The day long dedication and open house occurred on September 7, 1966 with a ceremonial "light-switch" thrown by Richard K. Mellon.
Prudential made many changes while owner of Chatham Center. In 1976, the hotel changed from a Howard Johnson's to a Hyatt House. The Chatham apartment building was converted to a condominium in 1981 and Chatham Two was built as the final phase to completing the entire Chatham Center concept envisioned in the 1960s.
In 1988, Prudential sold its interest in Chatham Center for $36.2 million to Elteq Equities Inc and included Chatham One and Two buildings in addition to the parking garage. Elteq Management Company assumed management of the center and renovated the parking garage shortly after the sale.
In 1981, the Prudential Insurance Company, then owner of Chatham Center, converted the apartment building into a luxury condominium. The new condomiunium project was named, "The Tower, A Condominium at Chatham Center" (often referred to as Chatham Tower Condominium), and opened with a gala celebration on December 6, 1981. Since opening, the condominium building has continued to be a premier residential address in Pittsburgh. In 2010, the building completed an extensive interior renovation project.
Early tenants of the office space included Travelers Insurance, Westinghouse Electric, and the National Steel Corporation
. Today, major tenants include UPMC
, Askesis Development Group, and the Pittsburgh Penguins
offices.
When originally opened in 1966, the hotel on the upper half of the building was a 450 room Howard Johnson
Motor Lodge. The Motor Lodge included a pool on the eleventh floor, a bar, restaurant, and signature Red Coach Grille. The Chatham Center Howard Johnson was designed to be an upscale hotel version of the traditional road-side Howard Johnson.
Hyatt
Corp took over the hotel site in 1976 and renamed the hotel, the Pittsburgh Hyatt House at Chatham Center. Extensive renovations took place and the number of hotel rooms were reduced to 406.
The hotel made one last change in 1996 when it was sold to Marriott
and underwent a new $8 million renovation. The number of rooms were reduced to 396 rooms and six suites and is currently operated under the name of the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center Hotel.
Interstate 579
Interstate 579 is a north–south Interstate Highway entirely within Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At long, it is short but not the shortest signed Interstate, an honor which belongs to I-375 in Michigan...
(Crosstown Boulevard) on the west, Centre Avenue on the north, Washington Place on the east, and Fifth Avenue to the south. Comprising a 2,200 car parking garage, Marriott Hotel, luxury condominium building, and office and retail space, Chatham Center is a major destination center with the new Consol Energy Center and Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
nearby.
History
Chatham Center was named after the Earl of Chatham, William PittWilliam Pitt
William Pitt is most likely to refer to:* William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham , Prime Minister of Great Britain 1766–1768; often known as William Pitt the Elder...
, for whom Pittsburgh is named. Groundbreaking for the project occurred with much fireworks and fanfare the evening of October 20, 1964. The complex was built between 1964 - 1966 by Chatham Center Inc, of which the principal investors were Morton S. Wolf
Morton S. Wolf
Morton S. Wolf was a realty executive.He was the founder of Spencer-Taylor Inc., a real estatedevelopment and hotel management firm. He founded the companytogether with his brother Charles S. Wolf. Under Mr. Wolf's...
and Leon Falk Jr. Financing for construction was provided by the Irving Trust Company of New York and the Mellon
Mellon
- People :* Ailsa Mellon Bruce , daughter of Andrew William Mellon, philanthropist* Alfred Mellon , British composer and conductor* Andrew W. Mellon , one of the longest serving U.S. Treasury Secretaries in history...
National Bank of Pittsburgh with the mortgage for the center being held by the Prudential Insurance Company. The architects for the project were William Lescaze
William Lescaze
William Edmond Lescaze was a Swiss-born American architect, and is one of the pioneers of modernism in American architecture....
and Harry H. Lefkowitz while the construction was by the Diesel Construction Company of Pittsburgh.
Original plans
The original plans for the center called for a 20 floor luxury apartment building; nine-story office building with a "sky lobby" for a hotel above; a 650-seat movie theater; a 2,200 car garage and gas station at a cost of $26 million.The building plans were delayed by labor strikes and absent building materials, but was finally completed by 1966. The day long dedication and open house occurred on September 7, 1966 with a ceremonial "light-switch" thrown by Richard K. Mellon.
Multiple owners
Chatham Center Inc continued to operate the center until 1975 when Prudential was able to foreclose on the mortgage and bought the entire Chatham Center facility at sheriff's sale for $19 million. Chatham Center Inc, headed by Leon Falk Jr, had defaulted on mortgage payments and was $2.1 million behind in property taxes.Prudential made many changes while owner of Chatham Center. In 1976, the hotel changed from a Howard Johnson's to a Hyatt House. The Chatham apartment building was converted to a condominium in 1981 and Chatham Two was built as the final phase to completing the entire Chatham Center concept envisioned in the 1960s.
In 1988, Prudential sold its interest in Chatham Center for $36.2 million to Elteq Equities Inc and included Chatham One and Two buildings in addition to the parking garage. Elteq Management Company assumed management of the center and renovated the parking garage shortly after the sale.
Buildings and Plaza
Chatham Center consists of three highrise buildings and a plaza built on top of a 2,200 car parking garage. The center originally contained a 650 seat movie theater in the south east corner.Chatham Tower Condominium
The Chatham Tower Condominium building was built as a luxury apartment building and was part of the original plans for Chatham Center. The apartment tower comprised 180 apartments and opened for tenants on May 1, 1966. J.J. Gumberg Company was named rental agent in 1967. This luxury residential building became a premier Pittsburgh address and home to many distinguished Pittsburgh residents over the decades.In 1981, the Prudential Insurance Company, then owner of Chatham Center, converted the apartment building into a luxury condominium. The new condomiunium project was named, "The Tower, A Condominium at Chatham Center" (often referred to as Chatham Tower Condominium), and opened with a gala celebration on December 6, 1981. Since opening, the condominium building has continued to be a premier residential address in Pittsburgh. In 2010, the building completed an extensive interior renovation project.
Chatham One
The Chatham One highrise building was part of the original plan for Chatham Center and is a mixed use building. The first nine stories contain 230000 square feet (21,367.7 m²) of office space and are separate from the top 11 floors which contain a hotel.Early tenants of the office space included Travelers Insurance, Westinghouse Electric, and the National Steel Corporation
National Steel Corporation
The National Steel Corporation was a major American steel producer. It was founded in 1929 through a merger arranged by Weirton Steel with some properties of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation and M.A. Hanna Company. Despite a difficult market in Depression-setting 1930, the company reported USD...
. Today, major tenants include UPMC
UPMC
UPMC can refer to:*University of Pittsburgh Medical Center*University Purchasing and Management Cooperative*Pierre and Marie Curie University...
, Askesis Development Group, and the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
offices.
When originally opened in 1966, the hotel on the upper half of the building was a 450 room Howard Johnson
Howard Johnson
Howard Johnson may refer to:*Howard Johnson's, a chain of hotels and restaurants*Howard Deering Johnson , founder of Howard Johnson's restaurants* Howard David Johnson, , American painter...
Motor Lodge. The Motor Lodge included a pool on the eleventh floor, a bar, restaurant, and signature Red Coach Grille. The Chatham Center Howard Johnson was designed to be an upscale hotel version of the traditional road-side Howard Johnson.
Hyatt
Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation , is an international operator of hotels.Hyatt Center is the headquarters for Hyatt corporation...
Corp took over the hotel site in 1976 and renamed the hotel, the Pittsburgh Hyatt House at Chatham Center. Extensive renovations took place and the number of hotel rooms were reduced to 406.
The hotel made one last change in 1996 when it was sold to Marriott
Marriott
- Corporations :* Marriott International, international hotel company* Marriott Hotels & Resorts* Marriott Corporation , originally known as Hot Shoppes, Inc...
and underwent a new $8 million renovation. The number of rooms were reduced to 396 rooms and six suites and is currently operated under the name of the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center Hotel.