Before the Cathedral of Learning rose, before Andrew Carnegie put up a library and museum and before Phipps Conservatory sprouted, Oakland was an oak tree farm. That is just one of the interesting things that guests at The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection (www.theoaklanderhotel.com) learn upon arrival.
Built from the ground up on a former parking lot, this Marriott property is across from Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall at 5130 Bigelow Blvd. The 167-room boutique hotel is a handsome addition to the area, with a unique 10th-floor check-in.
“It’s quite an experience,” said general manager Modi Ahmed, who left his hometown of Washington, D.C., for the opportunity to run this new hotel.
Once you pull into the entrance, a doorman or bellman takes your luggage and escorts you via the elevator from the lower lobby to the 10th floor. Or, if you’re a little more private, you can check in through your smart phone on Marriott’s mobile check-in. Either way, you’ll be impressed, Mr. Ahmed promised.
“When the elevator doors open, it is just so dramatic, with these floor-to-ceiling windows,” he said. “It’s an unparalleled view.”
You are nearly eye level with the baroque rooftop finial of Soldiers and Sailors and midway up the Cathedral of Learning. Phipps’ Victorian glasshouse is in the distance.
Rates range from $249 to $349 per night for a standard room and from $699 to $1,299 for the Presidential Suite.
Just 5 weeks old, the hotel’s Spirits & Tales bar restaurant suggests reservations because of its popularity. Also located on the 10th floor, it takes advantage of the spectacular vistas from 15-foot windows and offers an outdoor terrace for cocktails in warmer months. The restaurant is best described as polished industrial with an eye for detail.
“One of the things we wanted to do is bring in a lot of local artisans,” Mr. Ahmed said.
Local designers and artists from MonMade created some of the decor and Studebaker Metals made exclusive brass cutlery for the tables. Other details in the restaurant space and library area include hand-forged industrial brass, leather and wood. Each meeting room is named for a famous Pittsburgher.
“Oakland has a strong pulse and energy tempered with a historic foundation,” said Ami Kahalekulu of Twofold Design Studio. “We wanted to tap into this, and started our design process with the notion of ‘hallowed halls’ in the back of our heads.”
Oak paneling and other clubby details create a sophisticated ambiance in the guestrooms, halls, restaurant and meeting rooms.
“I believe the most important function of a hotel is to create a landing pad for visitors that is both familiar and engaging,” said Ms. Kahalekulu. “Hotels should give a sense of place and location so a traveler never feels a sense of disorientation.”
Nods to Pittsburgh’s past include a rendering of a small Ferris wheel and a bingo cage.
In The Oaklander, the Twofold team kept design elements more subtle and subdued than is typical in many new hotels.
“The intention was to create a timeless, tailored space with touches of drama and sparkle,” said Ms. Kahalekulu.
The hotel is designed like a poem, with layers of meaning that only become clear after many readings. The Presidential Suite’s guest bath, for example, features a plaid tile pattern which evokes Carnegie’s Scottish heritage.
In the ballroom, black metal rods with gold shades are used as ceiling chandeliers.
“It’s the black and gold of Pittsburgh without being overt,” said Mr. Ahmed.
Patricia Sheridan: psheridan@post-gazette.com.
First Published: April 15, 2019, 12:00 p.m.