21c Museum Hotel
21c Museum Hotel will renovate and restore the former Metropole apartment building to its original purpose as a hotel and a centerpiece of the Central Business District. Located adjacent to the Contemporary Arts Center and across Walnut Street from the Aronoff Center, the restoration will involve a renovation of the entire structure that preserves the Historic (circa 1924) appearance on the exterior while providing a new design to the interior of the building. Along with renovated guestrooms the project will also include an expansion of public spaces on the first, second and lower levels. The building will also feature completely new energy efficient HVAC, electrical, plumbing and life safety systems throughout the building. 21c Museum Hotel is being designed by Deborah Berke & Partners Architects (Design Architect) and Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel (Executive Architect).
When the 21c Museum Hotel project is complete the 150,000+ sq. ft. renovation will feature:
- a minimum of 150 rooms;
- more than 7,000 square feet of art exhibition and function space which will generally be open to the public free of charge;
- a restaurant and bar that serves contemporary cuisine;
- arts education programming and art events sponsored by 21c and other local arts organizations;
- permanent art woven into the fabric of the building and the surrounding streetscape with works of art filtering into both public spaces and unexpected places.
Building on its mission of engaging the public with contemporary art and supporting the revitalization of American downtowns, Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson launched the 21c Museum Hotel concept in 2006. The two philanthropists and arts patrons wanted to bring contemporary art to new audiences. The first 21c Museum Hotel, in Louisville, Kentucky, was recently selected as the #1 hotel in the United States and the #6 hotel in the world in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2009.
The Economic Development Division of the City of Cincinnati worked with 3CDC to package the redevelopment project and secured a commitment of City financing of up to $6.3 Million which has been approved by City Council. Total project costs will be $48 Million and construction will commence by the end of 2010.
For more information about 21c Museum Hotels, please visit: www.21cmuseumhotel.com.
The Metropole to be renovated into hotel - WCPO