Located in the heart of Downtown Dayton, the Dayton Arcade commands a prominent 2.3-acre site close to many important civic locations. Its location at the intersection of major downtown streets makes it easily accessible and is adjacent to ample parking opportunities. The project is a $129+ million investment in the rejuvenation of the City of Dayton. This historic site is a prime example of creative project funding where many funding sources were utilized including both state and federal historic tax credits. Image Credit: Sandvick Architects

This 3-dimensional view of the Dayton Arcade demonstrates the layering of uses of this dynamic mixed-use development. This layering creates synergies between the uses where the more public uses of retail and restaurants establish the street front base of the project. Offices and housing are then stacked above. At the heart of the historic block is the magnificent domed skylit Rotunda, the venue for many civic gatherings. The midblock concourse of the North Arcade, with the hotel above, creates a grand promenade to access the Rotunda from the street. Every piece of this mixed-use project works in concert to create this hub of urban activity. Image Credit: Sandvick Architects

The site plan shows the synergistic adjacencies of the floor plan uses. Many of the street-front retail, restaurants, and gallery spaces spill out not only to the sidewalk but also into the Rotunda. The concourse through the North Arcade provides a major circulation axis to the very public grand Rotunda space making connections to Third Street through to Fourth Street. The Arcade Innovation Hub’s adjacency to the Rotunda also gives access to this grand space from the east which makes the connection to Main Street. The interior connections and use adjacencies work well with the urban context of Downtown Dayton which further reestablishes the Dayton Arcade as a central civic focal point of the city. Image Credit: Sandvick Architects

The Arcade’s Rotunda Building was Dayton’s central hub and market for decades. With its original marketplace décor featuring turkeys, ram’s heads, and cornucopias, the Rotunda has been called the “Crown Jewel of the Gem City”. In the 1980’s, the Rotunda became the centerpiece of an urban mall concept with a multi-level food court. The Arcade’s most recent redevelopment reset the 1902 marketplace floor, creating a community gathering space with capacity for over 1,000 guests. This photo is from the popular “Holly Days at the Arcade” celebration, resurrected from the 1990’s Arcade redevelopment strategy and now in its fifth consecutive year. Image Credit: Stephen Brown

The Dayton Arcade’s Rotunda event space hosts over 75 events a year, including a variety of weddings, galas, conferences, and arts-related community events. Image Credit: Shagari Gerard Photography

Streets that were barren a decade ago have come to life. Art gallery openings, restaurant specials, and community-centered events fill the sidewalks with pedestrians enjoying the revitalized streetscape and lighting. Image Credit: Jordan Freshour

The Tank Inspired by CenterPoint Energy is used as an event space, primarily focused on innovation initiatives and community-building events. Created as a 110-seat theater in the round directly underneath the Arcade’s Rotunda floor, the Tank is a perfect place for pitch competitions, awards ceremonies, company presentations, and more. The Tank is also home to a glass box subway-style entranceway from Fourth Street, multiple pre-event spaces, and fully equipped green rooms. Image Credit: Dayton Arcade Events

Built in 1924, the first floor of the McCrory Building was home to a five-and-dime department store for most of its existence. During the 2020 redevelopment, the terrazzo steps and metal handrails of the lower-level access stair were preserved along with the surrounding wooden flooring. A fresh coat of paint and new light fixtures modernize this historic hallway of the McCrory Building, now housing the headquarters of the Entrepreneurs’ Center and the University of Dayton’s Crotty Center. The replica “Gem City Underground” sign is a nod to the building’s retail past and current serves as wayfinding to the Hub’s lower-level classrooms, offices, and studios. Image Credit: Kevin L. Myers

As the home and joint venture of The Entrepreneurs’ Center and the University of Dayton's Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, The Hub Powered by PNC offers coordinated and centralized resources for the region's entrepreneurs, innovators, builders, creators, inventors, students & teachers. Dedicated to supporting all Miami Valley entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneurs' Center brings together resources for new ventures. From small businesses to high-tech to research commercialization, the center offers free, game-changing opportunities to start-ups and scale-ups. Image Credit: The Hub Powered by PNC

At the largest university-anchored innovation hub in the country, University of Dayton (UD) students have resources and opportunities to learn at the most experimental level. The Hub Powered by PNC Bank houses the Crotty Center, which offers a distinctive approach to entrepreneurship education with experiences such as starting their own micro-businesses and regular contact with successful entrepreneurs. The Hub is also the home for classes in the College of Arts and Sciences and entrepreneurship courses for both UD and Sinclair College students. Image Credit: Jordan Freshour

The 6888 ("Six Triple Eight") Kitchen Incubator is a food business incubator by the OH Taste Foundation that provides training, business support resources, and commercial kitchen space for under-resourced food entrepreneurs developing businesses. The 6888 Kitchen currently has 14 active members and plans to finalize Phase 2 of their kitchen buildout in 2025. Image Credit: Kevin Lush Photography

Nestled within the Dayton Arcade’s beautifully restored architecture, a growing selection of restaurants and eateries offer something for every palate. The Arcade’s offerings range from a perfectly brewed espresso or artisanal pastry to inventive dishes using farm-fresh ingredients and globally inspired small plates. As evening falls, the Arcade transforms into a lively dining destination where friends gather over shareable plates and craft cocktails. Image Credit: Kevin Lush Photography

Spilling from the Arcade’s first-floor cozy restaurant interiors, patios are nestled beneath the grand dome of the Arcade’s Rotunda Building. Patrons can dine with views of the iconic structure surrounded by lush greenery, adding sounds of life to the historic structure. Image Credit: Kevin L. Myers

The Art Lofts at the Dayton Arcade are tailored (but not limited) to the needs and desires of artistic professionals, makers, and creative-class entrepreneurs. Amenities for residents include a fitness center, business center, club room, and on-site property management services. This property is a mixed-use income community managed by McCormack Baron Salazar. Image Credit: Kevin Lush Photography

Polished concrete floors and sleek white walls are the perfect backdrops for the exhibits The Contemporary Dayton hosts in its four galleries. Where once there were drills and dust, now there's a symphony of colors and textures, inviting guests to explore and immerse themselves in the world of art. The Contemporary Dayton is a non-profit gallery and artist resource that provides art for the community and a community for artists since 1991. Image Credit: The Contemporary Dayton

The Arcade’s Third Street and Gibbons Annex Buildings were built in 1902 as part of the original Arcade development. The historic Third Street Building façade, designed by Frank Mills Andrews in the Flemish guildhall style, is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city of Dayton. Its long-standing retail marketplace was shuttered in 1990 with the rest of the development. Long seen as the last piece of the Dayton Arcade puzzle, the completion of this second phase allows the Arcade to serve as the retail hub and pedestrian connector in the center of downtown Dayton once again. Image Credit: Kevin Lush Photography

In the North Arcade, the first floor of the Third Street Building will house the Arcade’s retail marketplace, with 7,500 sf of small business retail space. Under the North Arcade’s iconic skylight will be small spaces for around 10 local and unique retail opportunities. The upper floors of the Third Street and Gibbons Buildings will be home to a 93-room Hilton Garden Inn with a lobby entrance from Third Street and a full-service restaurant, The Garden Grille and Bar, on the second floor. Century Hotel Group is the managing hospitality partner alongside Mira Development, Witness Investment, and the team behind Dayton Arcade Partners. Cross Street Partners will manage the North Arcade first-floor commercial retail spaces. Image Credit: Moda4 Design

Since Dayton Arcade utilized both State and Federal Historic Tax Credits, the Secretary of Interior Historic Preservation Guidelines were strictly abided by. Most existing windows were restored. Windows that were beyond repair were replaced with historically appropriate windows. All the metal balustrades and cornices were deteriorated and were restored or replaced with new versions. The McCrory Building’s terra cotta water tables and cornices were replaced (not depicted). Image Credit: Cross Street Partners

Storefronts were replaced with historically inspired replacement windows and doors with energy-saving insulated glass. Clear glass was utilized to be historically appropriate but allows the new life of the restaurants, art galleries, and businesses to be seen from the city sidewalk. During the 1970’s a dark brick street front was constructed at the Ludlow Building and covered the entire first-floor historical façade. This covering was removed, and the original storefront and rusticated stone masonry was restored to its original grandeur. Much of the masonry was damaged and required masonry patching and replacement. Image Credit: Sarah Babcock Photography

Many of the Arcade’s street-front tenants are restaurants where they were encouraged to have their business spill out onto the existing wide city sidewalks and the Rotunda space. Art galleries’ storefronts also highlight the artwork in their storefronts. The Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Downtown at the Arcade introduces a high level of foot traffic on the street. The entire block is animated with the activity of the mixed-use tenants. Image Credit: Alexa Gallo

The historic Dayton Arcade complex isn’t just glowing — it’s a symbol of community, innovation, and progress. A sizeable grant from the local electric utility company made the iconic façades more vibrant and welcoming than ever. Image Credit: Kevin Lush Photography

The heart of the project is the grand Rotunda. Restoration of this spectacular space ranged from structural infill of the first floor to the reglazing of the domed skylight. The 1980’s renovation had taken out the Rotunda floor to create a shopping mall-style food court. The floor infill brought the space back to being a grand hall to host a variety of events. In-depth investigations were done to determine the condition of the decorative metalwork that adorns the walls and ceiling of the space. Cleaning methods and artisans were found to restore the colorful metalwork including the metal cornucopia of the dome. Experts were called in to evaluate the integrity of the skylight. The existing skylight frame was refurbished, and all new insulated glass was installed. All new audio-visual systems were installed to allow virtually any event to be held in the Rotunda. Image Credit: Brittany Jaye Photography

By restoring a landmark that had stood vacant for decades, the Dayton Arcade has set a precedent for community-driven redevelopment. The Arcade has hosted numerous civic events and welcomed dignitaries such as the Mayor and City and County Commissioners (pictured) and is preparing to be one of the sites for the 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly that will be held in Dayton, Ohio in May. The Arcade’s success not only revitalizes downtown Dayton but also serves as an inspiring model for cities nationwide. Image Credit: Andy Snow