A giant welcome banner will shroud the unfinished construction at the Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown during the G-20 economic summit next month.

Airborne Promotions on Saw Mill Run Boulevard took measurements for the banner at the hotel yesterday in preparation for its installation Sept. 1-6, owner Jay Simpson said. The company was hired by the Hilton to do the work, he said.

The banner will read "Pittsburgh Welcomes the World!" It will picture the flags of the G-20 countries as well as green leaves meant to symbolize green development in Pittsburgh.

It also will include a welcome from the hotel itself.

The mesh banner will measure nearly 6,000 square feet and is designed to cover up the steel framing erected as part of the Hilton's unfinished addition at the entrance to Downtown.

The banner, which is awaiting final approval from city officials, probably will be fabricated in three pieces, Mr. Simpson said. No cost estimate was available.

Shubh Hotels LLC, the Hilton owner, has been working with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and other city officials to come up with a suitable covering for the steel framing before the summit Sept. 24-25.

"I'm excited that we've been able to work together to come up with a solution that will make our city shine in advance of the Pittsburgh summit," Mr. Ravenstahl said in a statement.

He added the goal is to have the banner in place before the Steelers kick off their season Sept. 10 with a nationally televised game against Tennessee at Heinz Field.

City Solicitor George Specter said he does not believe the portion of the banner stating "Pittsburgh Welcomes the World!" constitutes a sign under city ordinance and therefore needs no formal zoning or planning approval. However, he said the Hilton reference does and will need authorization from the zoning administrator.

He does not believe that will be a problem.

"We think it can be approved and will be approved," he said.

The Hilton and its owner were left with the unfinished addition after contractor P.J. Dick walked off the job in May. The contractor filed a lien in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in which it said it was owed $317,273 by Shubh for its work.

Although the lien has since been recorded as satisfied, P.J. Dick said it still had not been paid as of the end of last month.

The city also revoked the building permit for the project after the architect, Stephen Berry, asked for the return of his design plans and specifications after Shubh failed to pay him $308,575 for his work at the Hilton.

Atul Bisaria, Shubh's chief executive officer, said last month that the company was "actively negotiating" to bring in an investor to help raise capital, settle debts with contractors and suppliers and complete the unfinished addition.

Neither he nor Harris Mathias, Shubh's chief operating officer, could be reached for comment yesterday.

Airborne Promotions also is covering vacant storefronts for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership as part of the G-20 preparations, Mr. Simpson said.