The Roof at The Durham

The Durham is a boutique hotel that has become a community and cultural hub in downtown Durham. The only independently owned and locally operated downtown Durham hotel offers 53 thoughtfully appointed rooms, including six suites, an upscale restaurant, coffee bar and rooftop lounge as well as private event space for weddings, business meetings and community events. Built in 1968, this gem of mid-century modern architecture originally housed the headquarters of the Home Savings and Loan Association. The original design by architect Perry C. Langston inspired the renovations done in 2015 by Raleigh-based Maurer Architecture and Los Angeles-based interior design firm, Commune. The renovations preserved much of the building’s character and 1960s charm. The original mid-century facade with its distinct gold accents remains. The huge retail bank floor on the main level became the restaurant’s dining room illuminated by original two story floor-to-ceiling windows. The curvilinear mezzanine with a view of the dining room once housed offices, including for the bank’s president and vice president, and now offers private event space. The bank’s original safe door, along with its massive hinges and dials, anchors the main level’s bar.