Litchfield Courthouse Reimagined: The Abner Hotel Brings New Life to a Historic Landmark 

A cornerstone of Litchfield, Connecticut’s storied past has entered its next chapter. The former Litchfield County Courthouse, built in 1880, has been transformed into The Abner, a 20-room luxury boutique hotel that blends timeless architectural character with modern hospitality. The $15 million redevelopment effort, led by Lexington Partners and supported by Bohler’s West Hartford team, marks a significant milestone in the town’s ongoing commitment to historic preservation and thoughtful revitalization. 

A Landmark Transformation

After serving the community for more than a century, courthouse operations moved to Torrington, leaving the Romanesque Revival-style building vacant. Rather than letting the structure fade into disuse, Hartford-based Lexington Partners envisioned a new purpose — one that honored the past while inviting guests to experience Litchfield’s charm in a contemporary setting. 

The hotel, which opened in September 2024, is named after Rev. Abner Reeve, whose son, Tapping Reeve, established the nation’s first law school in Litchfield in 1772.  

Respecting the Past, Elevating the Experience

Transforming a nearly 150-year-old structure came with complex challenges, both in terms of design and infrastructure. The building, protected by the Litchfield Historic District Commission, required a preservation-first approach from day one. 

“The courthouse is a highly visible location that’s important to our town’s history,” said Julia Metcalf, chair of the Historic District Commission and a designer known for historic home renovations. “The developer came to this with a full appreciation of the history of the location and collaborated with us through every phase of the project.” 

Inside, original features were carefully integrated into the hotel’s design. The second-floor courtroom now houses The Courtroom restaurant, where 14-foot-high ceilings and original wainscoting remain intact. Old judges’ benches and jury boxes were creatively repurposed into the restaurant’s banquette seating and the hotel’s reception desks. Six original fireplaces were preserved, while vaults in the basement were being transformed into guest bathrooms—every corner reflecting the building’s heritage. 

Engineering for Longevity

Preserving the past didn’t mean avoiding the future. Bohler worked closely with Lexington Partners to modernize site infrastructure while honoring the building’s architectural integrity. 

Through detailed field assessments of dry and wet utilities, Bohler determined that much of the existing underground infrastructure needed replacement. New water and sewer lines were installed, and transformer pads were upgraded to support increased electrical loads. To comply with accessibility codes without compromising the historic façade, an elevator tower was strategically added to the rear of the building, which also became the hotel’s primary entrance. 

In addition, Bohler redesigned the property’s original dead-end driveway to connect with municipal parking — enhancing both vehicular flow and pedestrian access to the new hotel entry. 

Collaboration with Preservation Partners

Navigating local, state, and national preservation requirements was essential to keeping the project on track. Lexington Partners engaged multiple stakeholders to secure approvals for every element of the renovation, including the Litchfield Preservation Trust and the State Historical Preservation Office.

“This project required working with the town’s Historic District Commission but also with the Litchfield Preservation Trust and the State Historical Preservation Office,” said Patrick Kenny, Vice President at Lexington Partners. “Before any work is done, we followed all of the strict preservation requirements needed for the project.” 

A New Era for an Icon

The Abner Hotel now stands as a symbol of what’s possible when thoughtful design, rigorous planning, and community collaboration come together. Its transformation not only preserves an architectural gem, but also breathes new life into the heart of Litchfield—offering visitors an opportunity to connect with the town’s history in an entirely new way.  

In recognition of this achievement, the project received the 2025 Best Adaptive Reuse and People’s Choice Award from CREW CT. In addition, the project was nominated for a 2025 Connecticut Preservation Award, an honor presented by Preservation Connecticut to celebrate outstanding efforts in historic preservation across the state.