History of the Lafayette Building The Lafayette Building originally opened in 1925 under the management of A.D. Gates as the Hotel Lafayette. St. Louis architect George Barnett designed the eleven story building. Each of the fireproof rooms, equipped with running water, rented for the sum of $2.50 per night. Decorator Paul Heerwagen, "a foremost decorator of his time," was responsible for the interior design of the hotel, classifying the building as "one of the state's finest." The hotel closed in 1933 and reopened in 1941, after the Great Depression, under the management of Southwest Hotel Corporation heir Ms. Grady Manning. The hotel was downsized from the original 300 rooms to 260 rooms and the well-known coffee bar was added. The building commercialized in 1953, undergoing major mechanical, electrical and plumbing revisions on the upper levels. The interior decor was changed throughout the building to incorporate a red and white color scheme. During this era, the Sky Room, Lobby, and Mezzanine of the Lafayette became a political platform for Arkansas governors, U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers, and U.S. President Bill Clinton. Up until 1973, the Lafayette also hosted many civic groups including Missouri-Pacific and Rock Island Lines, and the Kiwanis, Optimist, Lions, and Civitan Clubs. The Lafayette changed hands again in 1981 and a six million dollar restoration effort was begun. The lobby and mezzanine areas were restored to their original 1925 decor, including intricately stenciled ceiling. In 2008, the Lafayette finished the conversion of Floors 6-10 into thirty upscale condominiums. Lafayette Building The Property | Why Little Rock | More Info | Home Leasing and Management Maggie Hogan 523 South Louisiana, Suite 100 Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Voice: 501.375.3200 | Fax: 501.374.9537 [email protected] Copyright © 2011 Tower Investments, LLC All rights reserved.