What was formerly a Holiday Inn will soon have a new lease on life as a Graduate hotel.

When it comes to the Graduate hotel, the project costs nearly $8 million.

The hotel, which has also been a Hilton, Lincoln, and Ramada, is being renovated into a boutique-style hotel. A possible trend in downtown as the new Kindler hotel will also have a boutique theme to it.

Nearly everything in the hotel is gone, from drywall to lights, because a new look will transform the building. The contractors even had a sale at the hotel to help get rid of leftover furniture. Newer  hotels generally have a modern theme, such as free-standing fixtures, white everything, and clean lines, the Graduate hotel will have a look of yesteryear.

According to Peter Salter with the Lincoln Journal Star, “Each Graduate hotel is tailored to its community, and Lincoln’s will take a bit of a retro approach.”

Hot items in the hotel may include bits reminiscent to Kool-Aid and former Cornhuskers.

The hotel industry is experiencing more growth than before. HospitalityNet, a website with key importance in the industry, released some statistics on December 18th, 2015. According to the site, hotel revenue was expected to reach $550 billion in 2016. A high number compared to the past ten years of revenue reports. For future proofing, hotels are looking at cutting down on operating costs.

With Downtown Lincoln being a staple in the fall when Husker games draw huge crowds, in addition to other downtown events, the Graduate hotel project is one to look out for.