The American Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland — $22.5 million renovation
A $22.5 million renovation of the American Brewery in Baltimore, Maryland, was completed. Built in 1887 as part of a five-acre brewery complex, the American Brewery was once a landmark in East Baltimore. It was forced to close in 1920 due to Prohibition, and the building deteriorated over the following decades.
The front facade of the American Brewery building after renovation (2009)
The Warren Cultural Center in Greenfield, Iowa — $6.2 million renovation.
The Warren Cultural Center, formerly known as the E.E. Warren Opera House, first opened its doors in 1896. It drew in theater groups, musicians, and local acts, but over the course of the century, people stopped caring about the building, with only a few shops remaining open until 1990.
In 2012, a $6.2 million restoration returned the auditorium and other rooms to their original splendor. The building is now a hotel that can be used for meetings, receptions, shows, and overnight stays
The Boyle Hotel in Los Angeles — $24.6 million renovation.
The Boyle Hotel in Los Angeles underwent a $24.6 million renovation. Built in 1889, this brick structure was originally a luxury hotel with shops. However, it deteriorated over time, and retailers gradually left.
In the late 2000s, the Boyle Hotel underwent a $24.6 million rehabilitation, which included seismic reinforcement, a new roof, floors, doors, fixtures, kitchens, and bathrooms. It reopened in 2012 as 51 affordable housing apartment units, with a few shops on the ground floor
Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville — $30 million renovation.
Opened in 1928, the Tennessee Theatre features stunning Spanish-Moorish architecture, with its intricate tile work and horseshoe arch framing the stage. For nearly 50 years, it served as a movie theater in downtown Knoxville before closing in 1977.
After an 18-month, $30 million rehabilitation in the early 2000s, the theater was transformed into a performing arts center. The restoration preserved the building’s original ticket booth, foyer, grand lobby, auditorium, and Wurlitzer organ, reviving its historic charm.
The Salem Jail in Salem, Massachusetts — $10.5 million renovation.
The Salem Jail, opened in 1813, saw notable events like Harry Houdini’s escape in 1906 and the Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, serving time in the ’60s. By 1984, conditions were so poor that inmates sued the county, leading to its closure in 1991 as the oldest active penitentiary in the U.S.
After two decades of abandonment, developers transformed the building into 23 luxury apartments and a restaurant through a $10.5 million project, utilizing state and federal tax credits, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
