OPENING OF CITY PLAZA CREATES "HEART OF DOWNTOWN RALEIGH"
City Plaza Offers Unique Outdoor Meeting Space

Raleigh, NC - Outside the doors of the Silver LEED Certified Raleigh Convention Center, the Raleigh Marriott City Center Hotel and Sheraton Raleigh Hotel is a new "living room" for Downtown Raleigh. Reinforcing the image of the Raleigh area being one of American's most livable cities, City Plaza officially opened October 24 and provides a cultural and social gathering place in the heart of the North Carolina's Capital City.

The space, located on Fayetteville Street midway between the NC State Capitol and the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, features design elements including four glass pavilions with food and retail space, flexible seating, an interactive water fountain, LED lighting, planters and trees. Public art from North Carolina based artists are incorporated into the design with the signature pieces being four 55-foot City of Oaks light towers.

"The opening of City Plaza marks one more milestone in the renaissance of the Raleigh area" said Denny Edwards, president and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. "This space can used for outdoor events and receptions and allow visitors to experience our dynamic downtown with City Plaza being constantly used for markets, concerts and special events."

Adjacent to City Plaza is Charter Square, a section of City Plaza covered in Astroturf, which can be rented for receptions and special events. Through January the area will transform into a winter wonderland with outdoor ice skating, and special holiday events.