INSIDE D E S I G N
Project Profile:
Hilton Garden Inn Akron (1307 E. Market St., Akron)
Photos courtesy of Hilton Garden Inn Akron
It’s no secret that there’s something about the “new car” smell that is exciting. For hotels, that “new hotel” feel occurs every seven to 10 years, depending on the brand. Hotel renovations can include refreshing guest room and public area finishes, updating furniture and enhancing amenities. Hilton Garden Inn Akron received its latest upgrade (and more) in March 2026. Opened in November 2014, the hotel resides in the East End district campus of downtown Akron and features 139 guest rooms, a 3,780-square-foot ballroom, two breakout/boardrooms, meeting amenities, indoor swimming pool, fitness center and two outdoor patios. In Spring 2025, the owners, IRG Realty and Hotel General Manager Benjamin Schrader, kickstarted the renovation process by hiring PM Unlimited from Chicago as the project manager and Piatt Companies Design Group of Pittsburgh as the architect/designer. Phoenix Rising Contractors, located in Berea, was hired as the general contractor. Their team handled many of the renovation components in-house – demolition, painting, FF&E installation and subcontractor coordination and management for trades outside of their expertise. For this renovation, guestrooms received new finishes, new furniture and accessories, new bedding, upgraded WiFi and bathroom lighting. All public areas received new finishes, artwork, furniture and accessories, as well as new lighting in corridors and new patio furniture outside. Phoenix Rising Contractors partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Summit County ReStore to donate all the old furniture to help fund the building of homes for local families. A major change during the hotel’s renovation was an upgrade to its sundries shop. Previously, it was a six-foot by four-foot closet-like area with a drink cooler, freezer cooler and a few shelves of snacks and toiletry items. Phoenix Rising Contractors and its subcontractors removed walls to open the area, fabricated and installed custom millwork and countertops, and installed new commercial equipment. The new shop provides prime real estate to feature local vendors (a Hilton initiative), such as Hatch’s Honey, fresh macarons, local artist postcards and dog treats made by a local community learning center. The project finished on time and under budget, all thanks to ownership, hotel staff and the project team. –Properties Staff 62
Properties | July 2026