No matter what anyone says, most of the time hotels near Universities are not that interesting. The lobby areas are forgettable, and the rooms are simple — a basic bedroom, maybe a kitchenette, a small bathroom – a place to sleep in the evening and leave in the morning. These are the hotels our parents stayed at when they visited us at school — for homecoming week, graduation, or some special event. Poor them!
But now, there is a new idea, for those parents and others who want or need to stay near a University area. It is The Study Hotel. There are two right now, developed and owned by the New York based design firm, Hospitality 3.
The first Study Hotel is at Yale, in New Haven Connecticut. The Study at Yale captures the Ivy League experience, as the hotel encourages guest exploration of art galleries, music and theatre experiences at Yale. In addition, reading materials chosen by the Strand Book Store in New York are in the Lobby/Living Room’s floor-to-ceiling bookcase. Visiting authors, many who attended Yale, leave signed copies of their books..
But the newest Study Hotel, one that has already begun taking reservations, is The Study at University City, located at the crossroads of Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. It is a 145,000-square-foot, 10-story hotel, featuring 212 guest rooms that will serve visiting guests, dignitaries and college families. The unique Study living room features a café, and comfortable gathering area seating. The Study Hotel’s art gallery will showcase local artists and student’s work on a rotating basis.
The hotel also features over 7,000-square-feet of event and social catering space that includes a banquet salon and a suite of oversized conference studios. Event terraces allow guests to experience University City with campus and city views. All spaces are equipped with the latest in audio-visual technology.
Both Study Hotels – at Yale and at University City, seem to envision and expand the milieu and the cachet of the artistic, cultural, and idea-laced University experience. According to the Hospitality 3 Founder and President Paul McGowan, there are more Study Hotels planned, all around the needs of upscale University markets. Stay tuned.
