Aquila Court Conversion
The reason this building still exists is because the developer’s grandfather was a tenant with a dentists office soon after the structure was originally built. It is a very unusual structure for the time, era, and place: There were seven loft apartments on the south side of the courtyard, which were converted to “presidential suites” during the conversion to a hotel. The courtyard had been hit hard by the 70s, so with just a little adjustment, it has become one of the premier event courts in Omaha. The three upper office floors were converted to hotel rooms, with the first floor becoming public hotel spaces as well as having the Omaha Symphony as a tenant in the corner spot.
Here are a few interesting details associated with this project:
To gain a number of guest rooms that made the project economically feasible, 2” metal studs were used as demising walls, giving just enough extra space along the north wing for an extra six rooms.
Besides serving general storage, laundry and kitchen needs, a gym with sauna was built in the basement.
The first floor, historically, was composed of shops, where a double-height sales floor was open at the front, and a work room lofted above the back of these stores enabling these retail spaces to be overseen by just one owner/tenant.
The hotel was a Wyndham for just on five years, at which time the Magnolia hotel chain purchased the facility and tore out all the historic references that had been restored (including the gold-leaf ceiling at the main entry / elevator lobby).
The fine dining restaurant, board room, and other spaces given an old-world flair with the American Traditional furnishing are all gone and replaced for more contemporary tastes. Truly the “end of an era” for this type of business hotel.