Coming Out of Its Shell

Designed specifically for shopping, the Saks Fifth Avenue Building occupies a prominent corner in Cincinnati’s quickly developing Convention District. But neither its existing window displays nor the skywalk encircling its upper floors enabled light to penetrate its hefty brick walls.

That is not unusual for a department store. But when its original tenant vacated and it was slated for conversion into office and restaurant space, incorporating views and light became essential ways of connecting people inside the building to the activity outside of it. The challenge for the renovation was doing this on a relatively small budget while also negotiating a tangle of easements— most notably, preserving the third floor’s use as a ballroom—that connect it to the hotel next door.

While preserving the building’s distinctive geometry by leaving its monolithic brick corners intact, the renovation removed the skywalk from its upper floors. It also replaced its uninterrupted brick walls with a series of large, recessed windows that open it to the outside. Earthy red terracotta panels frame the windows, integrating them into the remaining brick façade.

Paycor, who has established a new headquarters in the building, enjoys views and access to the outdoors via a second-floor balcony. At its most prominent corner, diners at Salazar, the building’s anchor restaurant tenant, can savor meals al fresco on the patio and experience a strong connection to street activity. 

Overflowing with light and activity, the renovated space enriches the life on the street, but extends the life of the building’s embodied carbon.