CINCINNATI CONVENTION CENTER

The convention center’s reimagining once again captured media headlines in May as 3CDC and the project design team – Moody Nolan and TVS Architecture – announced that Downtown’s iconic, 17-year-old “Cincinnati” sign on the westernmost side of the structure will be upgraded this year. The upgraded sign will feature individual LED-illuminated letters, providing operators with complete creative control over the content shown. Unlike traditional signage, this dynamic system allows full customization of each letter—including color changes, gradients, and rich hues—enabling the display of visually striking and brand-specific designs. Demolition on the current sign is scheduled to begin in June and will continue through the summer. The new, upgraded Cincinnati sign is expected to be installed and operational by the time the building’s full renovation is completed.

Steady construction progress continues to bring the building’s transformation more into focus each day. Along the facades, structural steel and new metal panels showcase the future exterior design and on the roof, crews have added new steel in an area that will support the new rooftop terrace, which will be just outside the redesigned Queen City Ballroom.

At Elm Street Plaza, crews are continuing the construction of the new pavilion bar and additional buildings. Recently, a new sidewalk was poured at the south end of the plaza, which surrounds the future grass field area. Stay in the know with everything happening in the Convention District by subscribing to receive biweekly construction updates.

PAYCOR HEADQUARTERS

With exterior and streetscape work at Paycor Headquarters progressing at a steady pace toward completion, the Fifth Street sidewalk, which has been closed since redevelopment work began last year, was opened to the public outside of construction work hours in mid-May. In the coming weeks, the sidewalk will be completely reopened to the public at all hours.

Crews are now focused on streetscape improvements along Race Street, including setting a new granite curb and working on the underground utilities and foundation ahead of pouring the new sidewalk. Terracotta tile work is nearing completion up on both the Fifth Street and Race Street exterior facades. Crews are now installing tiles around the balcony at the corner of Fifth and Race streets, which is the final step to completing the installation work. On the building’s interior, crews are continuing to rough in new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems for the Salazar and Paycor space buildouts. Stay in the know with everything happening at Paycor Headquarters by subscribing to receive monthly construction updates.

FINDLAY COMMUNITY CENTER

In early May, leaders from the City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC), 3CDC, and several other project partners gathered to commemorate breaking ground on the construction of the new Findlay Community Center. The celebratory event took place at Findlay Playground, the future site of the new recreation facility. Project and civic leaders—including Mayor Aftab Pureval and City Manager Sheryl Long—spoke to the need for the community center and the positive and transformative impact it will have on the North OTR neighborhood. The event concluded with the ceremonious shoveling of topsoil at the project site.

Following the breaking ground, the construction team mobilized quickly to start moving the project forward. Currently, work is focused on excavation and underpinning to stabilize the site. 3CDC and the City of Cincinnati are finalizing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify operators for the community center and childcare center. The RFP will later this summer. Stay in the know with the transformative redevelopment projects in North OTR by subscribing to receive monthly construction updates.

CROSSROAD HEALTH CENTER

At the site of the future Crossroad Health Center in North OTR, the construction management team started selective demolition work at 34 Green Street. Work is currently centered on the building’s breezeway, and full demolition is scheduled in the coming weeks. Soon, crews will begin abatement and selective demolition work on the existing rec center building in preparation for redevelopment. Project partners are planning a construction kickoff event at the project site in June. Stay in the know with the transformative redevelopment projects in North OTR by subscribing to receive monthly construction updates.