New hotel on Østergade
iScandic Hotels is planning to build a new hotel in the city, in addition to the two already in existence.
The hotel is to be built at Østergade 12, on the site formerly occupied by Østergades Hotel.
The old façade of Østergades Hotel will be retained, whilst the interior will be completely refurbished to make way for a modern hotel with 226 rooms, a restaurant, a bar, and fitness and conference facilities.
The hotel will have 140 parking spaces in an underground car park beneath the building, and the intention is for these spaces to be used by both guests and the general public.
Østergade 12 was built in 1876 to a design by C. W. Puck. The building is inspired by Austrian architecture and constructed in the Neo-Renaissance style. In recent years, the front part of the building has housed various activities, whilst the old theatre auditorium has been used, amongst other things, for Revy and several different bars.
The hotel is expected to be ready to open in June 2010, with construction due to start in 2009, but a new local plan for the area must first be drawn up. The area is currently characterised by the somewhat dreary surroundings around the Bus-aksen, and the rear courtyard of Østergade 12 is one of the few open rear courtyard areas remaining in the city centre.
The local tourism industry has long complained about the lack of hotel facilities in Aarhus, and Scandic is the first to announce a major expansion of its capacity. The Scandic Group already has 312 rooms in Aarhus, spread across the hotels at Banegårdspladsen and Rytoften.