City Dedicates Lichtin Plaza

The City of Raleigh officially opened the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts' new Lichtin Plaza on April 21, welcoming residents and visitors to Raleigh's "front porch." Nestled at the southern end of Fayetteville Street, the redesigned plaza provides a more welcoming and accessible entrance to the popular live-performance venue. Improvements include a dedicated drop-off lane, new wheelchair-accessible ramps, and expanded greenspace.

The opening marks a pivotol step in the redevelopment of the area, which will also feature an expanded Raleigh Convention Center, the relocation of Red Hat Amphitheater and the development of a new hotel.

"We're excited to finally see this space come to life in a new way. Lichtin Plaza was designed to be a place where people gather, connect, and experience the arts, and with these enhancements and the new Omni Raleigh Hotel across the way, we're creating even more opportunities for our community and visitors to be part of that experience," said Kerry Painter, executive director of the Raleigh Convention and Performing Arts Complex.

Part of the plaza redevelopment includes the future Omni Raleigh Hotel, expected to open in 2028. The hotel will include 600 rooms, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, and 60,000 square feet of meeting space.