The hotel has 22 stories, and was designed by Columbus architects Kellam & Foley in the International style.

It would have as many self-service elements as possible, including self-parking, and rooms with vending machines for soft drinks, coffee, and cigarettes.

Guests would check into the hotel, seen via closed circuit television cameras and receive keys via pneumatic tubes.

[2] The hotel's swimming pool was designed to sit atop a large two-story portion of the building, partly cantilevering over city sidewalks.

It was to be four stories tall, designed by Frank Packard and built for F. W. Schumacher, vice president of the Peruna Drug Company.

[13] In 1916, the Ohio Republican Party held its annual convention and rally at the Virginia, and endorsed Charles Evans Hughes as candidate for U.S. President.

In 1924, the hotel also hosted the national convention of the Grand Army of the Republic and its auxiliary, the Woman's Relief Corps.

[16] Later that month, the board aimed to build a $4.7 million hotel with 315 bedrooms and suites, 10 to 12 stories, a 500-person ballroom, six retail stores, and self-service parking for 260 cars.

A pool and garden on the eighth floor would be exposed to the sky via a four-story central lightwell.

[3][22][23][24] By April 1962, work on the foundation began, with building construction to take place from May 25, 1962 to September 1963.

[26] In 1962, Columbus hotels spent about $5 million in upgrades to decor, air conditioning, and other alterations.

[33] The hotel lost its Sheraton franchise in fall 1986, and the owners hoped to use half of the building for condominiums.

[36][37] A plan in 1990 was to convert the building into apartments; other ideas included a health club, a high-rise parking garage, and a trading company headquarters.

In January 1996, it was purchased by HBE Corp., parent company of the Adam's Mark, part of an upscale hotel chain.