Downtown Raleigh’s most iconic building is entering a new era. Originally slated for demolition, the affectionately dubbed “hair curler” got a chance at a second life after it was acquired by Tidal Real Estate Partners in 2021. And come October, the longtime landmark will reopen as a 204-room boutique Hotel Indigo following a $36 million renovation that honors its backstory while bringing it firmly into the present.
While the former round Holiday Inn’s exterior was preserved to a tee from its original 1969 design, every aspect of the interior will be almost unrecognizable—from the parking deck to the lobby and guest rooms to the 20th-floor bar.
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“It’s quite a specific building, with a lot of idiosyncrasies,” maintains Tidal Principal Eyal Einik. “And what we tried to do is explore ways to promote them and have them come through in the design while at the same time bringing everything in the interior up to what a modern traveler would be looking for.”
Crowning the renovation is the new public-facing 20th-floor cocktail bar and gathering space managed by Denver-based Sage Hospitality Group—which will dish food, including breakfast, and local brews—plus a private dining area and flexible event space, all serving up views unlike anything else in the city. And while Tidal toyed with the idea of making the space into a larger restaurant, notes Einik, keeping the event venue was an important decision for both the hotel and the community.
“Talking to folks that have lived in Raleigh for a long time, the story more often than not was something like ‘I had my prom up there,’ or ‘I went to a friend’s wedding up there,’” he reflects. “We just felt like we couldn’t lose that.”
But how you pull up has gotten a modern upgrade. Rather than arriving by car via the ’60s drive-up entrance, the lobby is reconfigured to open up onto Hillsborough Street, with guests entering through a striking glass entrance—while parking will now be valet only. A new lush courtyard with seating will give both guests and locals another place to linger—think local vendors slinging drinks from an Airstream in the summertime and other events.
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Einik reassures that though the inside of the hotel has been dramatically transformed, it will still be very much Raleigh—bringing the icon into the modern era while still nodding to its OG flair. “The location is a pillar of the brand,” he says, also noting that it won’t just be a pastiche of what a 1960s hotel is.
You’ll see those idiosyncrasies in the furniture, which echo the original design; the new coffered ceiling referencing the building’s architecture; and geometric patterns in carpeting that speak to the organization of the rooms—in addition to a largely locally rooted art program (see sidebar) and pantry featuring local vendors.
“The goal was to bring as much of Raleigh into the hotel and let the building speak for itself,” emphasizes Einik. “We just tried to pick out little moments that let design decisions influenced by the hotel, the city and the neighborhood float through.”
The result is a hotel that feels familiar and entirely new at the same time—preserving what Raleigh loved about the landmark while reimagining nearly everything else. And with Hotel Indigo’s primo location in one of DTR’s most rapidly changing corridors, the hotel is poised to become a destination once again.
“Every bit of that building has been reimagined,” reiterates Einik, “and we’re just really excited to share that with everyone and see how surprised everybody is going to be when they walk through those front doors.”
House Guests
From guest rooms to public spaces, Hotel Indigo’s art collection is almost entirely homegrown. Meet a few of the NC artists checking in.
Guest Rooms:
Josie George (Elkin)
Skillet Gilmore (Raleigh)
Jeiel Shamblee (Wake Forest)
Public Spaces:
Caitlin Cary (Raleigh)
Darrell Dean (Winston-Salem)
Gabe Fonorow (Kernersville)
Katie Hatfield (Durham)
Micah Mullen (Raleigh)
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Timeline
Full Circle
1969: Raleigh’s iconic round Holiday Inn opens
2000s–early 2010s: The DTR fixture operated as a Clarion Hotel
2012: A Miami developer renovated the hotel and brought it back under Holiday Inn management.
2021: Tidal Real Estate Partners acquires the property, initially planning to demolish it.
June 2025: Tidal pivots its plans, saving the structure and converting it into a Hotel Indigo.
Dec. 2025: The building is officially designated a historic landmark.
Raleigh’s next skyline, under construction: the projects making it happen
By the Editors
Building buzz, literally, Raleigh is a city in motion. From historic makeovers to modern high-rises, city projects are moving from blueprint to buildout—leveling up her “it” factor with new projects, hotels and cultural hubs redefining every pocket of the city from the Central Business District to Midtown to the upcoming Blue Ridge Corridor. Tracking the towers, streetscapes and spaces in progress that promise to transform the cityscape and shape up the skyline, we’ve mapped out what’s rising, where it’s happening, and the bold features guaranteed to leave their mark on the city.
Omni Raleigh Hotel
Slated groundbreaking: 2025 Slated opening: 2028 Specs: 600 keys, 27 stories, 61K square feet of meeting space, 20K square foot ballroom Noteworthy features: DINING: Lobby bar, grab-and-go market and coffee shop, sports bar with a golf simulator, NC’s first Bob’s Steakhouse, three-meal poolside restaurant AMENITIES: Rooftop pool with spa, valet parking, resort-style wellness facility
Cementing the Cap City’s ascending rank as a travel destination, Raleigh’s first Omni hotel—and NC’s third—sets the stage for high-end stays for out-of-towners and staycationers alike. Staking its claim on the DTR skyline from its perch on Fayetteville Street, the Omni Raleigh Hotel sits squarely across from Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and the Raleigh Convention Center—primed to capture the city’s growing wave of eventgoers, especially with the Convention Center’s own renovation on deck.
Courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts
First announced in 2023, Omni has since upped the ante with an added 50 rooms—bringing the total key count to 600—plus more space for a larger ballroom. But perhaps its hottest draw for overnight guests will be a rooftop poolside restaurant serving sunrise scrambles to sunset cocktails, answering the call for both quick business breakfasts and all-day bites and bevs.
Beyond the pool—and taking full advantage of the blank canvas—the hip hotelier is betting big on boosting Fayetteville Street with a lineup of eats and drinks designed to also draw locals. Think a sleek lobby bar; a grab-and-go market and coffee shop; and the first Bob’s Steak & Chop House in the state, plating prime cuts and Americana.
Sports fans won’t be left out of the game either—the luxe hotel is adding a swanky sports bar, complete with massive TVs and a golf simulator. “It’s going to be the best place in Raleigh to watch the game,” maintains Omni Hotels VP of Acquisitions and Development Brian Zelman. With its mix of luxe lodging, dining and entertainment, Omni is no doubt set to become DTR’s next “it” hang. “Raleigh is an incredible city with an incredible culture,” emphasizes Zelman. “We love the emphasis on food and beverage, and that’s always been a point of emphasis for Omni to really distinguish ourselves from other competitors. We like the opportunity to create the first real luxury hotel Downtown and are excited to do that.”
Lichtin Plaza at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts
Laura Beesmer/HH Architecture
Slated opening: March 2026 Noteworthy features: • Wheelchair ramps on either side of the auditorium • Dedicated drop-off lane proximal to lobby • Open flex space for outdoor programming
Nearly 25 years after raising the curtain, Lichtin Plaza at Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts is getting a long-awaited glow-up designed to at once uplift diversity of touring shows and homegrown companies.
The timing is in step with neighboring transformations— the Raleigh Convention Center expansion and Omni Raleigh Hotel’s groundbreaking, both of which Martin Marietta is working with— positioning the plaza as a cornerstone of the evolving DTR arts, culture and tourism hub, says GM Michelle Bradley.
Beyond repairing worn pavement, Bradley shares the redesign will boast a dedicated drop-off lane landing patrons closer to Raleigh Memorial Auditorium’s lobby, new wheelchair ramps for added accessibility and a reimagined entry that trades the fountain-turned garden for flex open space suited to outdoor programming. “The building needed something that invites people in and says, ‘It’s the old, iconic building, but it has a new front porch,’” emphasizes Bradley.
Backed by city funding and the center’s savings, the plaza project broke ground in late September and is pacing for a remarkably speedy turnaround, with construction slated to wrap within six months for a March 2026 unveiling. “The whole process has been very quick,” muses Bradley. “I thought this is going to be something that we’re gonna do in seven years because we didn’t have all the funds. … Two and-a-half years later, it’s actually going to be done.”
And—in a win for culture vultures and Raleigh’s Christmas season—the show(s) will go on with scheduled programming playing out during construction, including holiday staples like The Nutcracker and the NC Symphony’s Candlelight Christmas. While this year’s plaza Christmas tree will relocate for the season, it’s expected back for 2026. And, so, a Raleigh cultural icon is stepping into its next act.
500 Hillsborough
Specs: Mixed-use, 221 residential units, 10K square feet street-level commercial space Noteworthy features: • Elevated amenities • On-site entertainment
Enlivening a long-dilapidated block of DTR comes 500 Hillsborough—a luxe stay-play hub primed to energize where Downtown’s Capital and Warehouse districts collide.
Cline Design
The buzzy destination from DC-based Dalian Development clears a stretch of shuttered businesses where West, Hillsborough and Edenton streets merge at 501–513 Hillsborough—think: Flex Nightclub, Montgomery Violins and a longtime handyman shop, plus the former Wilson’s Outdoor Equipment at 502 W. Morgan—to breathe fresh life into a major connector between these districts and Glenwood South.
Scaling with 221 upscale residences stacked above 10K square feet of street-level primo retailers and restaurateurs, the blueprint builds on the momentum of 400H, plus the upcoming Hotel Indigo and HM Partners’ F&B-focused development Garden West, to cement the corridor as Raleigh’s next buzzy build in action. With elevated amenities and on-site entertainment, 500 Hillsborough sets the stage for modern living at its boldest.
Garden West
HM Partners
Noteworthy features: Two to three restaurants spaces + outdoor patio
Also serving to energize a sleepy corridor that bridges the Downtown core to Glenwood South is Garden West, set to deliver a slew of vibey F&B concepts to keep Raleighites fueled and social.
Located at the corner of Edenton and West streets in the long-defunct CrossFit building, the pedestrian-oriented project will also convert ~20 spaces at the adjacent Powerhouse Square parking deck into an outdoor patio.
With the core and shell reno now complete, the next hot foodie destination is officially in leasing mode, says Gregg Sandreuter, managing partner of HM Partners, the buzzy developer helming the project. No stranger to what it takes to enliven this slice of Downtown, HM is also the mastermind behind thriving 400H and such grabs as Brass Tap and Press Coffee, Crepes & Cocktails—among others.
While no tenants are yet signed, Sandreuter suspects deals to close early next year—setting the stage for Garden West to become the next must-visit destination for food, drink and Downtown energy.
One Nash Square
Slated opening: 2028 Specs: 20 stories, 82 one- to four bedroom condos, 5.5K square feet ground-floor retail Noteworthy features: • Full-time doorman + concierge • Resort-style pool and sun deck • State-of-the-art fitness center • Pet spa • Resident lounge with co-working space
Morris Adjmi Architects / Bloomimages
Raleigh’s population boom is sparking new opportunities—and Alchemy Properties South is answering with One Nash Square. Set to break ground in 2026, the project will deliver 82 sleek one- to four-bedroom condos and 5.5K square feet of ground-floor retail in the heart of DTR, across from Nash Square in the Warehouse District, leading the next phase of the city’s residential growth.
“Downtown Raleigh is thriving,” says Alchemy President Ken Horn. “Strong job growth, a vibrant cultural scene and a steady influx of new residents make it an ideal market for expansion. The area offers the right mix of energy and character for long-term homeowners.”
Putting the luxe in luxury, One Nash merges high-quality design with mod amenities to deliver a level of comfort and class on a scale not currently available in Raleigh, adds Horn. Think single-family home vibes with highrise views, expansive terraces and spacious floorplans—amenitized with the likes of a resort-style pool and sun deck, state-of-the-art fitness center, resident lounge with co-working space, and a pet spa.
Alchemy is also in talks to bring in a mix of local concepts and complementary retailers in the streetlevel spaces, adding to the vibrant Warehouse District’s energy and serving both residents and the broader DTR community. Unlike typical apartments, these condos allow residents to put down roots and be a core part of Raleigh’s growth story. “There’s a clear, unmet demand for high-quality condo living in Raleigh,” maintains Horn. “This project is positioned to meet [that need] while contributing to the critical mass being established Downtown.”
The Creamery
Turnbridge Equities
Slated Phase 1 Opening: Mid-2028 Specs: Phase I, Highline Glenwood: 37 stories, 306 units (including 16 penthouses), 7,500 square feet groundfloor retail Phase II, office tower: 20 stories, 300K square feet Noteworthy features: HIGHLINE: • 37th floor indoor/outdoor sky lounge • 13K-square-foot ninth-floor outdoor amenity terrace with pool, padel court, lawn, grills, firepits and lounge areas • Demo kitchen; coworking suite; Trackman golf simulator; fitness center designed with Anatomy Fitness; and wellness suite with cold plunge, sauna and Hyperice recovery tech
Downtown Raleigh’s skyline is poised to level up—literally. Enter Tunbridge Equities’ Creamery redevelopment, which broke ground this summer, and will deliver Raleigh’s tallest and most amenitized residential tower with Phase I in 2028.
Topping out at 37 stories—a full four taller than current king PNC Plaza—Highline Glenwood will serve up sweeping 360-degree views of DTR and beyond, and a modern-meetshistoric centerpiece sure to redefine the city’s landscape.
When it comes to securing the property, Turnbridge leaned into its MO of breathing new life into existing spaces. “We really believe in utilizing the existing urban fabric in our placemaking,” says Managing Director Jason Davis, “and the Creamery is such a Raleigh landmark that it never crossed our mind to demolish it.”
As such, the historic Creamery building and former Pine State ice cream factory—along with current tenants Sullivan’s, Milk Bar, The Underground and BuildOps—will remain fully intact and operational throughout construction.
Further serving both residents and those who live, work and play in DTR across its 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail, the NYC-based real estate investment and development firm is actively courting a diverse tenant mix of local favorites and f irst-to-market concepts.
“Food and beverage, service-based businesses, and soft goods always play well together,” adds Davis. “We have developed strong relationships with many tenants at our mixed-use projects in Austin and Nashville that have had great success and trust our placemaking. Many of these have expressed interest in expanding into North Carolina.”
Phase II plans will add a 20-story office tower at 404 Glenwood, situated between the historic Creamery building and the railroad tracks, replacing the surface parking lot off Tucker Street. The project will also feature retail along a pedestrian street connecting the new building to the Creamery, creating a direct path between West North and Tucker streets.
“It’s all about the local fabric,” emphasizes Davis. “We saw a connection between Smoky Hollow and Glenwood South as one we could really capitalize on.” With its twin towers and streetscape, the Creamery at once weaves together two distinct DTR spaces—and shapes the future of Raleigh living.
North Carolina Museum of History
Slated opening: 2028 Specs: 40K-square-foot expansion, 25% more gallery space across three stories, three levels of existing parking Noteworthy features: • Four replicas of Wright Brothers flyers • New restaurant, gift shop and indoor/outdoor mezzanine • Landscape architecture reflecting NC’s natural history • Glass-enclosed glowing elevator shaft • Large atrium doubling as event space for weddings and the like
Preserving its past and literal history while ushering it into the future, the transformative take not only launches the space another 40K square feet, but completely flips the script on the visitor experience. Less mausoleum, more modernist and inviting—a plethora of glass, natural light and materials, open space, and a reoriented entrance on Jones Street are all designed to guide seamlessly and best explore and discover North Carolina’s stories.
“I think it’s going to have a stronger presence with a lot more visibility,” maintains LS3P Principal, Project Manager and Architect Dean Rains— especially as it lights up come nighttime. “It’s going to be a beacon to draw people—and just a more open, welcoming space that’ll attract people into those central galleries and discover the story of North Carolina and the community.”
As a nod to that NC lore, the tripartite exterior facade echoes the mountains, piedmont and coast—from mountain-style landscaping features and warm wood panels to four replicas of the Wright Brothers flyers “flying off into Kill Devil Hills” as the focal point of an interior 55 foot glass-walled atrium, complete with an indoor-outdoor mezzanine.
Inside, the museum will gain a more contemporary gallery, circulation, educational spaces like classrooms and demo kitchen, and other flex space. A unique glass “storage room” will double as a rotating gallery displaying the museum’s massive collection of paintings, maps, clothes, furniture, guns, knives, toys and beyond. Even the restaurant and gift shop are getting a mod makeover.
“This project is about honoring the trust North Carolinians place in us to care for their history,” says Director of the Division of State History Museums C.J. Roberts. “We’re building a space worthy of the stories, artifacts and traditions that define our state—so they can be preserved and shared for generations to come.”
Set to ignite NC history—think Night at the Museum, minus the runaway mummies—the reno transforms the museum into a mustsee destination along the city’s cultural corridor that’s sure to have Raleighites flying high for years.
Since the 19th century, Downtown Raleigh’s Depot Historic District has been a crossroads of community and connection—rooted in its railroad and distribution hub history. Now, LODEN Development is turning that legacy into a bold new chapter, transforming the cobblestone lot between the tracks and Davie Street into a vibrant work-play-stay destination.
“There’s real energy in this part of the city,” says LODEN Partner Henry Ward. “We see The Depot as a key connector in Downtown Raleigh that links people, ideas and neighborhoods.”
Anchored by an eight-story 170-room boutique hotel and rooftop bar with sweeping city vistas, the trackside transformation serves lodgers and locals alike a veritable playground to the tune of 30K+ square feet of street-level retail, complete with microshops and pop-ups; more than an acre of outdoor gathering space; and 20K square feet of elevated office space.
The historic Depot building, dating back to 1912, will be preserved and celebrated, with underused corners activated into a signature public plaza, lush green pockets and lively gathering spaces. LODEN is also committed to tapping local and regional brands to ensure the destination draws not just hotel guests and office tenants, but neighbors, day-trippers and the afterwork crowd.
Building on the area’s connective spirit, a dual “front door” design and network of interwoven pedestrian pathways anchor The Depot between the expanded Raleigh Convention Center and Red Hat Amphitheater to the southeast, Glenwood South to the north, and the growing West End district nearby to create a true urban crossroads.
Pairing placemaking with preservation, the railway renaissance fuses legacy and liveliness— honoring what was while making room for what’s next. Here, the city’s past and future don’t just coexist—they elevate each other.
Downtown Raleigh’s iconic round Holiday Inn’s future has been resurrected. Once sentenced to demolition with a sleek Kimpton on deck to replace it, the circa-1969 era-defining pillar is now closed to prep for a late 2026-slated Hotel Indigo revamp at the hands of NYC-based Tidal Real Estate Partners.
With construction set to start soon, the renovation will see a rebirth of what is arguably the most polarizing landmark in Raleigh’s lore. But love it or loathe it, it is inarguably one that, when set for demolition, saw more public outcry than any structure’s controversial fate in recent history.
Now fenced and preparing for new life, the revered retreat’s OG furniture and interiors have been hauled out. And with a rendering still in progress, Raleighites wait with bated breath to see what this modern moment will hold for the famed “hair curler”—think plans for a renovated ground-floor lounge, top-floor bar and event space with primo city views, and an updated guest experience blending Raleigh’s signature creative energy and Southern charm.
Just its third NC outpost—joining Asheville and Winston-Salem—IHG’s swanky Hotel Indigo brand blends boutique vibes with intentional design and experiences inspired by the local scene. And round hotels are nothing new to the hotelier, who counts among its portfolio such curved hospitality heavyweights as Hotel Indigo Taipei North in Taiwan and the UK’s Hotel Indigo Manchester. Similar to Raleigh’s scenario, the latter laid-back boho boutique rescued a historic Victorian building from ruin while adding on an adjoining modern 14-story rotunda tower, blending the old and new in a one-of-a-kind design that preserved the neighborhood’s history while breathing in new life.
Tidal President Ken Copeland frames the vision for DTR’s own 204-room Hotel Indigo as both bold and nostalgic, saying they’re “excited to bring Downtown Raleigh the true lifestyle boutique hotel it deserves… by restoring an iconic Raleigh landmark into the modern era.”
One Congress & State Street | Photo courtesy of John Moriarty & AssociatesHotel Indigo Manchester | Photo courtesy of Bowmer + Kirkland
Also known for its upscale developments, Tidal’s esteemed roster boasts such standouts as Nashville’s posh soaring residential and retail high-rise 1111 Church and Savannah’s dramatic and distinctive Perry Lane Hotel. On the local front, the real estate developer scooped up 1.3 prime acres of land in the Warehouse District in 2022 for just shy of $21 mill, at the time zoned for up to 40 stories—though no further plans have since been released.
Teaming up to lead the charge is local general contractor John Moriarty & Associates—no stranger to circular constructs, having helmed Charlotte’s glass-wrapped Ascent Uptown, a 33-story ellipse that similarly made a bold architectural statement on the city’s skyline. The Moriarty team is joined by Nashville-based architecture firm ESa—who also partnered on Music City tower 1111 Church, with a résumé that includes 2024-debuted Tempo by Hilton Nashville Downtown and Virginia’s award-winning The Bristol Hotel, to name but a few. Now, let the Raleigh fixture’s long-awaited glow-up begin.
