The Warner Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a prominent historic building located in the city's downtown area. Originally known as the Warner Theatre, this building opened in 1930 as a luxurious movie palace. It was part of the Warner Bros. theater chain, showcasing the grandeur and opulence typical of movie theaters from that era.
Designed by the architectural firm Rapp and Rapp, the Warner Theatre featured an elegant Art Deco style, with lavish interiors, grand chandeliers, and intricate decorative details. It could seat over 2,000 patrons, making it one of the largest theaters in the region. The Warner Theatre quickly became a popular destination for moviegoers, hosting film premieres and special events.
As the decades passed and the popularity of movie palaces waned, the theater experienced various changes in ownership and usage. By the 1980s, the building had transitioned from a movie theater to a performing arts venue and later was repurposed for other commercial uses.
In the late 1990s, the Warner Theatre was renovated and transformed into the Warner Center, a modern office and retail space. Despite these changes, the building has retained much of its historic charm and architectural significance. The exterior still showcases its Art Deco design, and some of the interior details have been preserved to honor its storied past.