Age is only a Number

In 1913 the Union Central Trust building was a daytime destination for employees of the Union Central Life Insurance Company. Over one hundred years later,  this former office building now welcomes residents with 21^st century apartments, private and shared resort-class amenities, and ushers in new life and vitality to Cincinnati’s central business district.

To transform the building from a place to work to a place to live, the design capitalized on the opportunities ripe for reinvention while preserving historical details that celebrate unparalleled quality and craft.

Owned by Stanley Dickson, the building occupies an entire city block, creating challenges—and interesting opportunities—to use the existing structure to help residents connect to the outdoors. By reclaiming a series of window openings bracketed by exterior columns, the renovation maximizes these slivers of space to create resident balconies. The project also takes advantage of the roof to provide outdoor access for residents and guests. Part of the roof that once hosted mechanical units now hosts a pet park. A new rooftop pool offers unique views of the city. The ideal spot for the pool placed it above an 18^th floor library featuring a beautiful neoclassical coffered ceiling. To achieve this, we coordinated the design of a steel armature to support the pool and protect the ceiling, ensuring 20^th century historic detail and a 21^st amenity live happily ever after.

One of a constellation of architecturally significant buildings designed by Cass Gilbert, Cincinnati’s Union Central Building shares design DNA with iconic addresses such as the Woolworth Building in New York City and the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Landmark buildings contribute to a city’s unique character. Giving these landmarks—like Cincinnati’s Union Terminal and Pittsburgh’s Braddock Carnegie Library—new purpose brings them to life for new generations.