Carew Tower

Carew Tower
Company type	Mixed-use development
Industry	Real estate
Founded	1930
Founder	John J. Emery
Headquarters	Cincinnati, United States
Products	Office space, retail, hotel, parking facilities
Number of employees	2000+ (1930s)

Carew Tower stands as a 49-story Art Deco high-rise located in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ranking as the second tallest structure in the city, it held the title of Cincinnati’s tallest building from its completion in 1930 until 2011, when it was overtaken by the Great American Tower at Queen City Square. The tower derives its name from Joseph T. Carew, who owned the Mabley & Carew department store and lent his name to a previous building on the site. Today, it serves as the central element of a mixed-use development.

Conceived by industrialist John J. Emery, Carew Tower was envisioned as a "city within a city," integrating office spaces, retail outlets, a hotel, and parking facilities into one complex. The construction was managed by Starrett Brothers, Inc., led by skyscraper expert William A. Starrett, with principal architectural design by Walter W. Ahlschlager and assistance from associate architects Delano & Aldrich. Despite the economic turmoil following the 1929 stock market crash and onset of the Great Depression, construction continued uninterrupted, reaching its highest point in July 1930 and completing early in 1931 at a cost of $33 million ($ adjusted for inflation).

Initially, the tower accommodated commercial offices on the majority of its floors, featured a retail arcade at lower levels, and included an observation deck at its summit. In recent years, it encountered significant vacancy rates and financial difficulties. In 2022, Victrix Investments LLC purchased the property with intentions to transform it predominantly into residential units by late 2029. The hotel within the complex opened in 1931 as St. Nicholas Plaza and has mostly operated under the name Netherland Plaza, becoming the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza in 2002. Notably, this hotel remained under different ownership during the 2022 transaction. The smallest structure on-site—a parking garage—ceased operations in 1979 and was eventually demolished.

Carew Tower is recognized as a Cincinnati icon, having been added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and later designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994. The National Park Service lauded it as "one of the finest examples of skyscraper modernism in America" and "the most comprehensive representation of the 1920s' Jazz Age."

Planning and construction

The site of Carew Tower was previously occupied by the Carew Building, a nine-story Romanesque edifice designed by James W. McLaughlin in 1891. This building bore the name of Joseph T. Carew, founder of the Mabley & Carew department store, and stood adjacent to the Emery Hotel & Arcade established by industrialist Thomas Emery in 1877. In May 1925, Mary Emery acquired the Carew Building for $2 million with plans to erect a new hotel honoring her late husband. By the end of that year, nearly all properties within the block were under Emery family control after purchasing the Andrews Building in March 1929 for $1 million, consolidating an entire block on Fifth Street between Race and Vine Streets. Tenants were given notice to vacate by June 1, 1929, and preparations for redevelopment led to closing of the Emery Hotel on June 3.

The project originated from realtor Walter S. Schmidt of Frederick A. Schmidt Company with John J. Emery—vice president of Thomas Emery's Sons—acting as developer. Early concepts proposed a multi-functional development featuring a department store, theater, office spaces, and a luxury hotel designed to rival New York’s famed Waldorf Astoria New York. Skyscraper specialist William A. Starrett took charge of planning; his firm Starrett Brothers, Inc. served as general contractor. By mid-1929, plans omitted the theater but incorporated a retail arcade and an automated parking garage instead. Walter W. Ahlschlager led architectural design with Delano & Aldrich contributing as associate architects; their influence is evident in design elements inspired by their Wall and Hanover Building.

Announced publicly on August 24, 1929, demolition commenced immediately with dismantling of the Emery Hotel starting August 25. A workforce of approximately 700 demolished the Carew Building over one month—the tallest structure ever demolished in Cincinnati at that time. By mid-October only one out of thirteen buildings remained standing; this demolition marked Cincinnati’s largest clearance project ever undertaken.

Construction began shortly before the October 24 stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression. John J. Emery had sold stocks weeks earlier to fund development, cushioning financial impact from economic downturns. Despite speculation about halting or scaling back construction, executives from Starrett Brothers confirmed intentions to expand project scope based on confidence in Cincinnati’s prospects. Concrete pouring started January 8, 1930; excavation and foundation work proceeded on schedule with steel erection planned for February 10. The official naming as "Carew Tower" was announced March 1.

Steel framework assembly began March 6 but was briefly halted on March 24 due to an ironworkers’ sympathy strike protesting Starrett Brothers’ use of non-union labor on New York’s Empire State Building project. Approximately 259 ironworkers walked off site while other trades continued operations uninterrupted. Former New York governor Al Smith mediated negotiations; after 49 days an agreement was reached May 12 ending the strike with minimal disruption despite $2 million lost wages.

Construction quickly resumed; by June brick masonry had reached nine floors with stonework near completion at lower levels. On July 5 during erection of its 44th floor, Carew Tower surpassed all other buildings to become Cincinnati’s tallest structure during construction phase. Unfortunately two workers lost their lives during this period by early July. On July 9 Mrs. Emery symbolically raised an American flag marking topping out—the steel skeleton was completed within an unprecedented record time of 61 days using roughly 15,000 tons of steel.

Labor unrest persisted briefly with a steamfitter strike beginning July 24 and a one-day wood painting strike occurring in August; both resolved through compromises allowing union labor for future woodwork painting tasks. Brickwork for hotel and tower sections finished early August; garage masonry concluded late September.

The tower welcomed tenants starting October 1, 1930; hotel operations commenced January 28, 1931; garage dedication followed February 14. The entire project was finalized within just over seventeen months from announcement date and employed more than two thousand workers—making it one of Cincinnati’s largest employers at that time. Total expenditures reached $33 million ($15 million allocated for land acquisition and $15 million for construction), representing one of America’s most significant real estate transactions during that era.

Early commercial utilization

Initially, control of Carew Tower was leased by Emery to William A. Starrett's Starrett Ohio Corporation. Although Thomas Emery's Sons retained ownership of the land, they held only a minority interest in Starrett Ohio Corporation. Upon Starrett's passing, Thomas Emery's Sons acquired a majority share in November 1932, thus obtaining ownership of the entire complex. The entity was renamed Carew Tower, Inc., which then granted Thomas Emery's Sons authority over leasing operations, prompting the company to move its headquarters into the tower.

The first commercial occupant of the tower was Edward J. Reardon from Carney Cement Co., who opened an office on the 29th floor in October 1930. The grand opening of Mabley & Carew on October 7 attracted thousands, featuring remarks by Governor Myers Y. Cooper and a performance by Vincent Lopez. Shortly thereafter, H. & S. Pogue also established a presence in the retail arcade, with both department stores becoming the largest tenants in the building. Over 4,000 visitors toured the facility during its official inspection in November 1930. One of the earliest occupants was Emery Industries, which remained until 1985. By mid-1931, more than 70% of the space was leased, increasing to above 90% by 1940. After Emery assumed presidency in 1935, the Charter Committee relocated its headquarters to the tower. Beginning in March 1939, Crosley Broadcasting and WLW rented the entire 48th floor for their experimental television station W8XCT. In subsequent decades, notable figures such as Major League Baseball commissioner Happy Chandler and National League president Warren Giles maintained offices within the building. Mabley & Carew vacated their space in 1960, allowing H. & S. Pogue to expand.

Originally containing 800 rooms, the hotel was named St. Nicholas Plaza after a former Cincinnati hotel that had ceased operations. Viennese hotelier Joseph Reichl managed the property under a lease from Starrett Ohio Corporation starting October 1930. Ohio Governor George White received the first registration card despite not having visited at that time. Nearly 1,000 guests attended the hotel's opening dinner in January 1931. Bandleader Wayne King was engaged for early performances and composed a piece titled "St. Nicholas Plaza March." A court ruling in February 1931 determined that the St. Nicholas name belonged to Hotel Sinton, necessitating a name change. After reviewing over 2,000 alternatives, "Starrett's Netherland Plaza" was selected to preserve the original initials; however, public usage eventually dropped "Starrett's."

Following Thomas Emery's Sons' takeover in 1932, "Starrett's" was removed from the hotel’s name, leaving Netherland Plaza as its official designation. Reichl resumed his role as president but resigned in 1933; thereafter, Emery enlisted Ralph Hitz's National Hotel Management Company to operate the hotel. Local management returned in January 1940 after Hitz’s death. A fire in January 1942 inflicted $400,000 in damage (adjusted for inflation), marking one of Cincinnati’s most expensive fires in recent years. In 1956, Hilton Hotels acquired Terrace Plaza Hotel and secured a $25 million lease on Netherland Plaza for a term of 25 years, rebranding it as Hotel Netherland Hilton. During the 1960s modernization efforts, much of the building’s original Art Deco design was concealed.

The Carew Tower Parking Garage commenced operations on February 14, 1931. Initially overseen by Fountain Square Parking Unit, Inc.—which was renamed Carew Tower Parking Unit, Inc. late in 1930—the garage briefly entered receivership toward the end of 1931 but resumed service by December of that year. By the late 1950s, decreasing utilization led Thomas Emery's Sons to contemplate converting the garage into $2 million worth of efficiency apartments; however, this plan was never realized and the garage ultimately closed in 1979.

In June 1942, Thomas Emery's Sons consolidated existing debts into an $11.5 million mortgage with Prudential Insurance Company. Subsequently, in March 1967 they sold the land beneath Carew Tower to Bankers Trust for an undisclosed amount—estimated at approximately $2.13 million—accompanied by a 30-year leaseback agreement and an $11.2 million mortgage on the tower itself; by this time, the Prudential mortgage had been completely repaid. In October 1969, Thomas Emery's Sons sold Carew Tower to Emery Realty Co. for $12.35 million while retaining management responsibilities through this entity to facilitate trust arrangements.

Renovations and Belvedere acquisition

In 1980, Emery Realty consented to link the Netherland Plaza with a segment of the Cincinnati Skywalk along Race Street, while maintaining authority over the precise placement of this skywalk. Following Hilton's decision not to extend its lease in 1981, the hotel closed for a $28 million renovation that restored its original architectural elements and reduced the total rooms to 624. By mid-1982, Emery Realty opposed the city's proposal to connect the newly developed Hyatt Regency and Saks Fifth Avenue complex to the hotel's Palm Court—transformed into a dining venue—via the skywalk. The city intended to construct a $475,000 "bridge to nowhere" spanning Race Street without providing direct access into the hotel. Emery Realty initiated legal action against the city in September 1982, citing potential harm to Palm Court and diminished pedestrian flow. In January 1983, the Historic Conservation Board approved the plan, and following modifications to the skywalk design by the city, Emery dropped its lawsuit. The hotel reopened in October 1983 under Dunfey Hotels management and was rebranded as the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel by April 1984.

In January 1988, Emery Realty obtained a $50.5 million mortgage from Western & Southern and Fifth Third Bank to clear existing debts and buy out members of Emery Holding Co. That same year, H. & S. Pogue (later known as L. S. Ayres) shuttered its Carew Tower location. Developers Faison Associates and Noro Realty Advisors joined forces with Emery Realty to transform the former Ayres space into Tower Place mall, anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and McAlpin's, connected by skywalks. Emery also planned a $12 million upgrade of Carew Tower’s retail arcade alongside renovations of its parking garage. The Cincinnati City Council backed Tower Place with $6.5 million in tax increment financing aimed at revitalizing downtown retail activity. By August 1988, project plans estimated costs at $47 million with an anticipated opening in spring 1990.

Demolition of the Ayres building was paused in February 1989 due to concerns about potential damage to Carew Tower's garage, delaying Tower Place’s launch until June 1990. Emery then opted to demolish the garage entirely, which risked pushing back the opening into 1991. Leasing responsibilities transferred to Faison in April 1990; demolition recommenced on May 8. In May 1989, city council acquired Parkdale Garage for $9.5 million to fund demolition and renovation efforts and extended a $2 million loan to Emery for skywalk enhancements amid fears that Tower Place might be abandoned. Additional loans were issued amidst wage disputes; excavation began in October 1989 despite legal obstacles resolved through agreements concerning walkway usage.

Emery Realty defaulted on its mortgage loan in January 1990, prompting Belvedere Corporation to become a co-owner and commit over $30 million toward refurbishments spanning the arcade, office spaces, and hotel facilities. Construction delays at Tower Place arose from disagreements over garage connections and onsite incidents; reopening was rescheduled for spring or fall of 1991. By April 1990, Belvedere had acquired full ownership of the Carew Tower complex; later that year, Shell Pension Trust purchased a half-interest stake though Belvedere maintained management control. Tower Place officially opened in August 1991 with costs surpassing $60 million but primarily drew customers from existing downtown retailers.

Belvedere assumed management of Netherland Plaza in 1996 while the hotel continued operating under an Omni franchise until switching to Hilton in 2002, prompting renovations focused on elevator systems and bathroom upgrades. By 2012, Belvedere had invested nearly an additional $10 million in further improvements.

In 1997, a skywalk connecting Carew Tower to Fountain Place across Fifth Street—the final segment constructed—was completed but later demolished in October 2020 as part of broader downtown redevelopment initiatives.

Due to tenant attrition raising doubts about its viability as a downtown destination, Faison transferred management of Tower Place to Madison Marquette in early 2004. That same year saw plans for demolition of the skywalk linking Tower Place and McAlpin's. In August 2007, Northeastern Securities Development Corp. acquired Tower Place; after regulatory complications with Madison Marquette, management shifted to CB Richard Ellis later that year. By 2012, Cincinnati considered purchasing largely vacant Tower Place for $8.8 million; this acquisition was finalized at $8.5 million in 2013, preventing foreclosure amidst ongoing tenant departures. Subsequently, the city sold the property for $1 to JDL Warm affiliate which proposed a $5 million transformation into a parking facility with retail frontage under the name Mabley Place; it opened late in 2014 but was sold at a loss within months.

By 2006, Carew Tower was among four downtown skyscrapers listed for sale amid increasing office vacancies. In 2012, Fifth Third Bank filed an $81.5 million mortgage set to mature in 2037. The tower’s vacancy rate stood near 13% in 2013—below downtown averages—with rumors of residential conversion circulating but denied by Belvedere CEO Alex Warm who confirmed sufficient income generated from office tenants and hotel operations.

Tenant losses persisted into the early 2010s including major organizations such as the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and Music Teachers National Association. In November 2014 investor Greg Power acquired Belvedere Corporation along with Carew Tower; Hamilton County assessed the building’s value at $62.4 million at that time. A condo conversion application filed in 2017 intensified speculation about residential redevelopment; by early 2019 nearly half of retail and office spaces were vacant prompting requests for tenants to relocate within the building facilitating possible residential use on upper floors. Carew Realty Inc secured over $9 million financing from First Financial Bank during that year.

The observation deck closed during the COVID-19 pandemic remains a prominent local attraction with potential reopening included among redevelopment plans. As of 2020, remaining corporate occupants included Cincinnati magazine alongside two law firms.

Victrix acquisition and conversion to residential use

In July 2020, the tower was placed on the market with Cushman & Wakefield acting as the listing agent, excluding the Netherland Plaza from the sale. The office portion, encompassing 400,000 square feet, was appraised at $18.4 million, while the Carew Tower Arcade’s 110,000 square feet of retail space carried a valuation of $9.7 million. In February 2021, Duke Energy issued a notice threatening to disconnect power over unpaid invoices but later retracted this warning. By October 2021, First Financial transferred its 2019 loan to Veles Partners LLC, who quickly initiated foreclosure proceedings against Power due to default on the $9.7 million mortgage. Additionally, Cincinnati pursued collection of more than $600,000 in outstanding sewer fees.

In August 2022, Victrix Investments LLC—a New York-based firm affiliated with Veles Partners—acquired the tower for $18 million. Power retained ownership of Netherland Plaza; Victrix’s purchase included only the office and retail sections of the building. On closing day, Veles withdrew its foreclosure action, and a new deed was executed to separate utility responsibilities from the hotel property. Victrix revealed intentions to primarily transform the tower into residential units. The final corporate occupant, law firm Wood, Herron, & Evans—established there since 1930—vacated the premises. The following month, Victrix’s CEO filed a $5.1 million lien against Netherland Plaza for unpaid costs related to Carew Tower’s condominium subdivision in 2017.

November 2022 saw a foreclosure lawsuit filed against Netherland Plaza LLC over default on a $77 million loan dating back to 2021. To maintain its Hilton affiliation and prepare for a potential foreclosure sale, the hotel was placed under receivership. In November 2023, a court determined that Power owed $84.9 million on this loan; failure to repay within three days could result in a sheriff’s sale. Subsequent rulings in 2024 confirmed outstanding obligations of $1 million to Cincinnati and $1.6 million to Hamilton County for unpaid lodging taxes.

In December 2022, Ohio allocated $6.4 million to the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority for brownfield environmental cleanup at Carew Tower, including asbestos removal and roof replacement work. In November 2023, wind damage caused scaffolding around the building to collapse and dislodge bricks; no injuries were reported but nearby streets were temporarily closed for safety. The following month, the tower secured a $10 million historic preservation tax credit aimed at window replacements and facade restoration; plans included developing 385 apartments with amenities located on floors 45 and 46. January 2024 brought an additional $4.2 million tax credit awarded through a state mixed-use development initiative. By September 2024, an agreement was reached with the Port to assist Victrix in sourcing construction materials exempt from sales tax.

The conversion blueprint for 2025 envisions 375 market-rate residential units spanning floors 4 through 49 along with floor 65, complemented by approximately 65,000 square feet of retail space across the first three levels and ten short-term corporate housing units. This $162 million redevelopment project includes $54 million in capital investment by Victrix. In return for a 30-year property tax abatement granted by Cincinnati, Victrix pledged contributions totaling $16.7 million toward Cincinnati Public Schools and $1 million supporting the city’s streetcar system over that period. On May 12, the city council’s Budget and Finance Committee recommended approval of these arrangements and proposed forgiving a $2 million skywalk construction loan dating back to 1989 that had been inherited by the city. On May 14, council members unanimously endorsed the tax abatement package, emphasizing its critical role in ensuring project feasibility. Construction is slated to commence in 2025 with completion targeted by late 2029.

Jumpers

There have been multiple cases of individuals who have either taken their own lives or attempted suicide by leaping from the tower:

On February 15, 1944, Martha Schrickel, aged 31, jumped from the 26th floor.
In 1944, Oscar Perlmutter, a 61-year-old scrap dealer, jumped from the 42nd floor.
In 1952, Robert Maxwell Jones Jr., age 26, climbed onto a ledge on the 47th floor but was saved after several hours.
Hazel Gundrum, 23 years old, died by jumping from the 43rd floor in 1953.
Dorothy Holt, aged 38, jumped from the observatory on the 49th story in 1961.
Barbara Ann Koch jumped from a window on the 40th floor in 1969.
In 1978, Robert McMurray, aged 34, jumped from the observation deck on the 49th floor.
Frank Rosenberger, a 14-year-old, jumped from the 21st floor in 1982.
Daniel Fluegeman, age 22, jumped from the 49th floor observatory in 1992, landing on the patio of the Omni Netherland Plaza Hotel.
In 2000, a woman died after jumping from the observatory on the 49th floor.
A man died in 2016 following a jump from the observation deck on the 49th floor.

Exterior

The Carew Tower and Netherland Plaza are connected by a shared five-story podium. The first level of Carew Tower is clad in black granite and features expansive windows framed with reeded white brass. The second floor is constructed of limestone and contains tripartite windows adorned with decorative lintels and cartouche. Dominating the east facade is a two-story main frontispiece that leads into the retail arcade; this section is embellished with cast metal bas-relief sculptures depicting various modes of transportation. Flanking this frontispiece are semicircular columns topped with palmette capitals and crowned by an eagle perched on a globe above the arcade entrance. Much of this sculptural work was crafted by Rene Paul Chambellan. A segment of the Cincinnati Skywalk once linked the second floor to the Westin Hotel. The upper floors of the base display pairs of recessed windows separated by fluted piers, featuring an oval motif and limestone coping along both east and north facades.

Above this base structure, Carew Tower’s exterior predominantly consists of yellow brick, a budget-conscious substitution for limestone during the Great Depression. Vertical emphasis is achieved through variegated piers and spandrels framing each bay. The central portion of the east facade is set back by two bays and flanked by six bays on either side up to the fifteenth floor, where a series of setbacks begin. These setbacks continue upward in multiple tiers characteristic of its Art Deco design, accentuated by gilded spandrels. The north and south facades reflect this pattern but with fewer bays to emphasize a north-south axis. The west facade is comparable but features fewer upper-level setbacks.

The Netherland Plaza’s base presents distinct characteristics: its north facade’s ground level contains display windows for H. & S. Pogue department store and other retailers; above that, on the second and third floors, seven large rectangular windows are topped with eagle sculptures. One window was partially removed to accommodate a skywalk addition. The roofline is decorated with floral motifs and foliated swags capped by freestanding urns. Hotel entrances on Fifth and Race Streets are sheltered by porte-cochères adorned with floral friezes. The upper hotel floors echo Carew Tower’s brickwork and stepped setbacks while emphasizing an east-west orientation through multi-bay arrangements.

The parking garage shares the complex’s unified base and east-west orientation. Its east and west facades consist of three bays each; however, its north and south sides are mostly windowless. Building materials correspond with those used for both tower and hotel. The Race Street entrance features green terracotta with buff trim to complement Carew Tower’s design aesthetic; meanwhile, vehicle exit points are located on Vine Street.

Interior

The Carew Tower Arcade spans the basement and first two floors, providing approximately 110,000 square feet of shopping space. While some original Art Deco elements were modified during updates, many features remain preserved, particularly on the lower level. The arcade is embellished with Rookwood Pottery tiles showcasing floral and geometric patterns, regarded at the time as “the most costly piece of faience tile ever created worldwide.” Distinctive details include air registers adorned with floral motifs, display windows and doorways framed by metallic zig-zag designs, and walls composed of contrasting light and dark stone. On the lower arcade level, which connects to the garage, travertine walls are complemented by arched display windows and a decorative cornice crowned with a scallop motif.

Above the arcade, the tower offers about 400,000 square feet of office space distributed across most of the upper floors. Tenant-driven interior renovations have led to practical but varied office layouts without notable architectural distinction. The 49th floor features an observation deck that attracted visitors until its closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Netherland Plaza hotel stands out for its extensive Art Deco styling throughout public areas, adhering more closely to Art Deco principles than other local examples that lean toward Art Moderne. Design influences stem from the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris, including metal grilles inspired by Edgar Brandt’s work. The lobby floor is laid with Roman breccia marble; a grand staircase beneath Louis Grell’s mural Bienvenu aux Voyageurs depicts a compass rose surrounded by 24 gazelles symbolizing hours in a day. Brazilian rosewood panels rest upon marble bases in the main lobby, while elevator interiors feature heron and lotus designs echoed near arcade elevators.

Originally serving as the hotel’s lobby, the Palm Court was transformed into a dining venue. It showcases rosewood-paneled walls divided into bays and a ceiling influenced by Egyptian step pyramid architecture. A Rookwood Pottery fountain adorned with seahorse and ram sculptures anchors one end of the room. Ten murals by Grell in Louis XV style portray leisure scenes with Carew Tower’s silhouette visible in the background. A renovation during the 1980s introduced additional murals depicting historic Cincinnati landmarks.

On the first-floor mezzanine lies the Apollo Gallery, which displays two Baroque-style Grell murals inspired by Greek mythology: “Apollo on Chariot” and “Hunt of Diana.” This gallery leads into the Continental Room, originally designed as the primary dining space featuring an ice rink. Four seasonal murals flank its entrance; however, original Oriental walnut wall paneling suffered damage during remodeling.

The third floor contains the Hall of Mirrors ballroom, modeled after Versailles’ famed hall. Its low-ceilinged foyer contrasts with an expansive ballroom intended to inspire awe. Walls crafted from marble and plaster incorporate fluting and swag details; indirect lighting is provided by bronze sconces with frosted glass shades. The room is lined with gold-plated mirrors, including a large mirror behind the stage connected to a balcony whose balustrades depict Pan figures. Surrounding the ceiling is floral trim encircling a central mural chandelier installed after the original was destroyed by fire in 1942.

Adjacent to this ballroom foyer is the Julep Room—initially built as a wedding chapel but later converted into a bar and meeting area. The space features walnut paneling accented with decorative nickel silver trim.

Stairways leading to the fourth floor are decorated with glowing murals created by Cincinnati artist Tom Bacher in 1984. The fourth floor houses Pavilion Caprice nightclub, inspired by ocean liner SS Leviathan, featuring carpeting patterned with musical notes and sunburst light fixtures resembling ship portholes painted with nautical scenes. Three fluted columns draw design cues from Berlin’s Großes Schauspielhaus. This nightclub has undergone several redesigns to stay current with changing interior trends.

Also located on this level is the Hall of Nations (formerly known as Corridor of Periods), which includes ten small meeting rooms framed by doorways reflecting distinct architectural styles: Greek Revival, Georgian, Neoclassical, Greco-Roman, Federal, Renaissance, Baroque, Romanesque Revival, Art Deco, and Empire.

The complex originally incorporated the Kent Automatic Garage, an automated parking facility featuring three double-car elevators that transported vehicles to one of 700 spaces spread between floors five through twenty-five; an additional floor was reserved for car washing and lubrication services.

Height

The Carew Tower stands at 49 floors and reaches a height of , including its rooftop flagpole. Initially designed to have 43 levels, the building’s height was extended in November 1929. It surpasses Mount Airy, Cincinnati’s highest natural elevation, by . Upon its completion, it became the tallest structure in Cincinnati, overtaking the 1913 Fourth and Vine Tower, which measured . It was also Ohio’s second-tallest building at the time, following Cleveland’s Terminal Tower. The Carew Tower held the title of Cincinnati’s tallest building until 2011, when the Great American Tower at Queen City Square surpassed it. Although the Great American Tower has eight fewer floors, it is approximately 90 feet taller due to its distinctive tiara design. Until that point, Cincinnati was one of the last major U.S. cities whose tallest building dated back to before World War II.

Separately considered from Carew Tower, the Netherland Plaza rises 31 stories and stands tall, ranking as the eighth tallest building in the city. The adjacent parking garage, which reached 27 stories and , was once among the tallest parking-only structures worldwide prior to its demolition, making it Ohio’s tallest demolished building at that time.

Reception and legacy

The Carew Tower's innovative mixed-use concept was groundbreaking for its era. A 1930 article in the Cincinnati Enquirer described it as “the first great building in America” to combine several distinct functions within a single structure. At the ceremony marking its topping out, Mayor Russell Wilson lauded its “latest features of multiple-use building.” In 1979, critic Jayne Merkel praised it as “50 years ahead of its time,” highlighting its role in fostering a “continuously healthy downtown.”

Erected during a period when Cincinnati was moving away from political boss control toward civic reform, the project embodied progress. John J. Emery, a developer involved with the tower, was a prominent member of the Charter Committee advocating such reforms. Architectural historian Edward W. Wolner associated the tower’s mixed-use design with forward-thinking business efficiency principles. The Enquirer acknowledged the development as a “great civic undertaking” poised to “give national impetus to the program of progress in Cincinnati.”

In 1982, both Carew Tower and Netherland Plaza were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Netherland Plaza became part of Historic Hotels of America in 1991, and by 1994, the entire complex achieved National Historic Landmark status. The National Park Service recognized it as "one of the finest examples of skyscraper modernism in America" and a quintessential representation of the Jazz Age spirit from the 1920s.

Carew Tower has consistently been cited as an emblematic structure of Cincinnati by prominent media outlets and officials alike. In 1943, The Cincinnati Post referred to it as a “[symbol] of Cincinnati's greatness.” The Enquirer has called it “one of Cincinnati's most historic landmarks” and “an unmistakable icon in the city skyline.” More recently, members of city council have reiterated its importance as a symbol representing both downtown Cincinnati and the city overall.

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