It's much easier to catch a breeze inside the Royal Connaught these days — because it has been almost totally gutted.

The condo project restoration of Hamilton's most historic hotel is well underway, and that means from the right angle, you can see straight through the front windows from the street to the greenery of the Escarpment in the distance.

Penthouse sales were launched earlier this year in the 99-year-old building's luxurious lobby. When the first phase of construction is finished, likely in mid-2016, the condo project will have multiple penthouse units, ranging from $446,990 to an eye-popping $1.2 million.

One and two-bedroom suites are priced more conservatively at the $258,000 mark.

The former hotel was closed in 2004 and after a few false starts, was sold to a group of buyers including developers Ted Valeri and Rudy Spallacci.

The developers' vision for the Connaught includes renovating the hotel's west and east towers and building new ones on site. The complex would boast a total of around 700 suites.