Construction crews are one step closer to completing major renovations on a historic hotel in downtown Green Bay. Today NBC26 got a tour as workers just finished demolition inside the 92-year-old Hotel Northland. The 160 room luxury hotel is in the middle of a 44 million dollar face lift. They're trying to bring the hotel back to what it once was.
From the outside it doesn't look like a lot is happening to the old Hotel Northland that's managed to stand its ground since 1924.
"We're here every day from six in the morning to five o'clock each day Monday through Friday," says Bob Verzal the General Superintendent of KPH Construction.
Once considered the grand dame of Green Bay hotels, today marks a turning point for the structure.
"I’m extremely excited this is really the fun part," adds Keith Harenda the President of KPH Construction.
The interior demolition is officially done today. Now the renovation work starts in earnest.
"Next is the remodeling and putting everything back together again," says Verzal.
Now they have to bring every room back to life with the same pizzazz it once had.
"If you know your history and if you can always take care of the history and bring it back to its grandeur… it's something I've always believed in," adds Harenda.
"Now you strip it down and you bring it back to what it's supposed to look like. That's where you start seeing the beauty of the wood coming back," says Verzal.
Much of the original flooring tile, wood banisters and of course oversized windows will be just as they were over 90 years ago which is all in an effort of keeping a landmark historic and one of a kind.
The construction company working on Hotel Northland is 2 to 3 weeks ahead of schedule right now. They anticipate opening the doors officially by years end.
