Collegiate chic
(4/22/2010) (from hotelworldnetwork.com)
When Hospitality 3 acquired the 46-year-old Colony Inn on Yale University’s campus in 2006, developer Paul McGowan’s goal was to create a contemporary hotel that easily blended into the distinct architecture of the surrounding buildings. The result is The Study at Yale, a luxury boutique hotel that offers a convenient and upscale option for visiting families, dignitaries and corporate travelers.
To meet the need for additional hotel rooms in New Haven, Conn., the multimillion-dollar project added two floors to the existing structure, increasing the number of rooms from 86 to 125. The hotel also features a redesigned interior layout that includes 3,000 square feet of meeting space, a private lounge area overlooking the campus and a restaurant with a private dining room and banquet facilities.
The Study at Yale makes its mark on historic Chapel Street with an impressive glass exterior—embedded with amber, blue, green and eggplant-colored pieces—that pays homage to the original gothic-style buildings found on campus.
Respecting the hotel’s location, a “collegiate chic” theme is found throughout the space. For example, lobby bookcases are stacked with literary works by Yale graduates. The lobby also features a wood and limestone entry canopy and solid walnut floors. Comfortable leather seating encourages guests to linger and relax.
The university-inspired theme continues in the guestrooms. Five room types, plus a presidential suite, feature leather reading chairs and ottomans, along with an expanded desk area and task lighting. In addition, guests will find a custom-designed seersucker bathrobe stitched with the hotel’s logo, which is a pair of reading glasses.
The renovation had its share of challenges.
“We spent a considerable amount of time sourcing components of the design to achieve our cost and quality objectives,” McGowan says. “High-quality plumbing fixtures, stone surfaces, glass shower enclosures and an abundance of wood throughout the project give it the character and sophistication we were hoping to achieve.”
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