Before & After

I see a lot of historic buildings transformed using preservation tax credits, but rarely have I seen one as dramatic as this! It's taken me a little while to put this post together because I had to go back a ways to find the "before" shots, but it was worth it!

In a previous life this was the Gate City National Bank building in downtown Kansas City. It sat vacant with its original interior partially demolished for years before a new owner with a great idea bought it and began the work of turning it into the Ambassador Hotel; now one of KC's finest boutique hotels.

Rosin Preservation managed the historic tax credit aspects of the project, and you can learn more about it (and them) by clicking their link.

So, lets have a look . .

Here's the view through the foyer into the main lobby, before & after:

And looking back from the other side of the lobby:

Interior side of the doorway from the lobby to the foyer:

This awesome fireplace is now part of one of the finer rooms!

The former basement now has a beautiful ballroom, exercise room and meeting areas.

The original arched foyer ceiling was missing when purchased, but the the new owners replicated it beautifully!

Large open spaces on the upper floors made the conversion to hotel rooms easier, and features like decorative brackets and large windows were retained for guest to enjoy.

It's a wonderful hotel with a top notch restaurant, too. Check it out: 1111 Grand, Kansas City Mo., The Ambassador Hotel.