Trades Praised for their work on Drury Hotel

A new hotel opened in a historic downtown Cleveland building to critical acclaim, thanks to the members of the Cleveland Building Trades.In late April, the Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown officially opened for business in a building constructed in 1931; formerly owned and occupied by the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Board of Education.The three-year, $52 renovation turned the neglected structure originally built as part of the city’s original Group Plan development, into a stunning hotel.Throughout the project, members of the Cleveland Building Trades used their expert training and experience to not only preserve the structural and historical integrity of the building, but to also modernize it to meet today’s safety codes and 21^st century amenities standards.Cleveland.com reported the project had drawn interest from a large following of people interested in the building’s history.Area of the building that have received praised during tours include the marble-lined, two-storylobby containing Depression-era murals and massive arched windows and chandeliers; the two-story auditorium featuring wall murals and intricate ceiling stenciling; and the former board room, now an executive suite.Krisandra Lippert, Development Project Manager for Drury Southwest, credited the hard work of the Cleveland Building Trades for the property's dramatic and beautiful transformation."This is the most skilled labor force I've ever seen," Lippert told Cleveland.com. "Everybody wanted to be here. Had it not been for them, we would not be open yet."