A large crowd enjoyed champagne and gourmet hors d’oeuvres while celebrating the “rebirth” of a local icon. The ceremonial re-opening of The Cincinnatian Hotel on October 11, 2018, celebrated its new life as a Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel. This Great Gatsby-themed Cincinnatian celebration allowed the community to admire the many public spaces that were refreshed as part of the renovations performed by HGC. View the complete slideshow of the Cincinnatian renovations. Originally built in 1882, The Cincinnatian is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest in Greater Cincinnati. The facility had not seen any major work since 1987. HGC performed extensive renovations on this hotel, which remains the only small luxury hotel in the city. View highlights of HGC’s historic preservation work. The project was truly an effort by the entire HGC Group of Companies. The first step, demolition on the first floor, revealed drastic deficiencies that required major structural overhaul. Approximately 40% of the existing floors had to be removed and restoration required innovation. Some of the structure was still part of the original 1884 structure, badly compromised due to age. Partnering with SSRG, most of the floors were torn out and revealed architectural pieces that had been buried for years. All work was completed while allowing the hotel to maintain daily operations. (VIDEO: Cincinnatian Under Construction) The end result is a modern, sophisticated hotel with unique, high-end finishes. HGC’s custom mill shop, Stanton Millworks, was contracted to complete original woodwork throughout the space, including bookshelves, wall paneling, and an incredible feature wall in the lobby. A custom mosaic from international tile artists, Sicis, was painstakingly installed behind the new hospitality desk. Check out Fox19’s live tour of the renovated space. A new restaurant and bar was added to the front corner of the building, more accessible to the public. The casual and cozy environment features dark wood and exposed brick. The brick walls were restored by SSRG masons, and the bar and host station were crafted by Stanton Millworks carpenters. A second eatery offers a market-like atmosphere for hungry people on the go, also featuring custom shelving and doors from Stanton Millworks. The details incorporated to refresh this historic icon not only match the new brand, but pay homage to the building and city’s history.