"The Plaza Hotel Complex, constructed in 1915, articulated in Spanish Colonial Revival and simplified Italian Renaissance styles. The buildings are significant as the first major commercial development in St. Louis to employ all stucco exteriors. The deliberate abstention from the use of ornamentation and emphasis on surface texture unifies the Complex and distinguishes the buildings from traditional St. Louis architecture, historically associated with decorative brick and terra cotta." [From the nomination to the National Register of Historic Places as prepared by Deborah B. Wafer, February, 1985.]