The 140-room conversion property is to open in a historic building - construction is expected to begin this fall on the adaptive reuse of the mid-century landmark Breuer Tower, with an anticipated opening in spring 2010.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms, today announced that a Hotel Indigo is coming to downtown Cleveland. 

The Hotel Indigo will be located at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East Ninth Street, in the epicenter of downtown Cleveland, and is owned by The K&D Group. 

The site of the Hotel Indigo is the only high-rise building designed by famed Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, and the historical significance of the building will be preserved, with the 12 lower floors redeveloped into the Hotel Indigo and the upper floors reserved for residential space. The preservation and redevelopment of the Breuer Tower is being done by the lead project architects, Westlake Reed Leskosky. 

Nationally recognized for their work in adaptive re-use projects and historic preservation, Westlake Reed Leskosky served as Marcel Breuer's local architect on the Breuer Tower when it was built in 1971, providing on-site construction administration when the firm was known as Schafer Flynn van Dijk and Associates. The firm has maintained original prints and project information in its archives.

Guests at the 140-room Hotel Indigo will be within close proximity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the trendy East 4th Street entertainment and dining neighborhood, the Warehouse district, and Playhouse Square, the second largest performing arts center in the U.S. 

Business travelers will be near the financial district, the Cleveland Convention Center and several corporate offices, including Eaton Corporation, Ernst & Young, IBM and East Ohio Gas.  Progressive Field, home to the Cleveland Indians, and Quicken Loans Arena, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, are just two blocks from the hotel, and guests will be less than a mile from both Cleveland Browns Stadium and the Great Lakes Science Center.

The Hotel Indigo will be located in the Euclid Avenue Corridor, an area of downtown Cleveland currently undergoing a $200 million mass transportation renovation.  Extending from Public Square in the center of downtown Cleveland to University Circle, the Euclid Avenue Corridor connects downtown to the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University and the cultural institutions of Cleveland, including the Museum of Art, Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Natural History Museum. Satellite-controlled, state-of-the-art "streetcars" will efficiently traverse the entire length of the corridor in minutes.

"We are excited to introduce the branded boutique concept of Hotel Indigo to downtown Cleveland in an area currently experiencing an upswing in development," said Jim Anhut, senior vice president, Franchise Development, the Americas, IHG. "The conversion from a historic building suits the unique character of Hotel Indigo and will provide an exciting alternative for guests looking for a boutique hotel experience in the heart of Cleveland." 

The Hotel Indigo is an integral component of The K&D Group's $200 million redevelopment of East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue. The plans include a complete mixed-use lifestyle center with a new 13-story Class A office building adjacent to the renovated Breuer Tower.

 "The K&D Group is thrilled to bring Hotel Indigo to the heart of downtown Cleveland. Hotel Indigo is a lodging experience unlike any other in the city," said Doug Price, CEO of The K&D Group. "When we won the bid to purchase the former Ameritrust complex, we committed to bringing about a renaissance of Cleveland's central business district, and we promised exciting progress in months – not years. This announcement delivers on both counts."

The Breuer Tower is of great significance, not only to Cleveland's skyline and the career of Breuer, but also as a fine example of High Modernism in America. Its historic renovation will return the Tower to its austere and sleek grandeur.

The exterior, which is defined by large windows set in white pre-cast concrete panels accented by black granite, will be thoroughly cleaned and maintained, an undertaking not executed since the early 1970s. Inside, the ground floor and mezzanine are fully clad in polished and flamed granite that will be restored to their original condition. They will function as a lobby for the Hotel Indigo and the residences on the top floors.

The restoration of the Breuer Tower and the redevelopment of the complex will be a LEED-certified project. The K&D Group and Westlake Reed Leskosky are exploring a variety of "green" options for the project. The Hotel Indigo brand recently announced a partnership with Earth Share, a nationwide network of the country's most respected environmental and conservation organizations.

Earth Share will assist in cultivating and amplifying Hotel Indigo's sustainability efforts, including developing forward-thinking environmental business practices such as water and waste reduction programs, use of eco-friendly cleaning products, on-property recycling programs, increased involvement in community environmental initiatives, and expanding menu selections to include more natural, organic, and local ingredients.

The Hotel Indigo will feature signature design elements including oversized lobby chairs, which create a personal work or dining space within the public areas of the hotel; cozy, airy and inviting guestrooms with plush bedding, hardwood-style flooring and spa-inspired showers; and a Phitness studio with cardio equipment and free weights.

The hotel will also offer Phi, an on-site casual gourmet restaurant; a 24-hour business center; wireless high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel; and 3,000 square feet of meeting space for business functions or special events.