Akron hotel to get a new identity
The Quaker Square Inn, a downtown Akron, Ohio, landmark, provided rooms for its final guests Saturday, June 29, and closed its doors the next day.
The building is famous for its architecture, because it was once a silo complex, which means the quirky rooms are round. However, the building will not be demolished, but renovated for use as a residence hall for University of Akron (UA) students.
The university has owned the building since 2007, but used only part of it for student residences while allowing visitors to rent guest rooms as in any hotel. However, the inn has had low occupancy for some time, due to the fact that it is not a “marquee” brand (like Holiday Inn or Four Seasons) and is not connected to a nationwide reservation organization.
Laurie Madden, a UA official, said although the hotel rooms will become student housing, the public will still have access to the rest of the building, especially those areas that are currently open to visitors. These include first floor banquet rooms, a ballroom in Quaker Station, and several retail stores including Schumacher’s Restaurant, the Pie Factory, and the General Store.
In addition, converting the hotel to a residence hall will allow the university to close two other student housing units that are now outdated: Grant and Gallucci halls. After the renovation is complete, the university will have 2,888 beds available for students.
University officials could work with brochure printers to create a mailer for prospective students, describing the unusual architecture of the new residence and inviting them to visit.
The building is famous for its architecture, because it was once a silo complex, which means the quirky rooms are round. However, the building will not be demolished, but renovated for use as a residence hall for University of Akron (UA) students.
The university has owned the building since 2007, but used only part of it for student residences while allowing visitors to rent guest rooms as in any hotel. However, the inn has had low occupancy for some time, due to the fact that it is not a “marquee” brand (like Holiday Inn or Four Seasons) and is not connected to a nationwide reservation organization.
Laurie Madden, a UA official, said although the hotel rooms will become student housing, the public will still have access to the rest of the building, especially those areas that are currently open to visitors. These include first floor banquet rooms, a ballroom in Quaker Station, and several retail stores including Schumacher’s Restaurant, the Pie Factory, and the General Store.
In addition, converting the hotel to a residence hall will allow the university to close two other student housing units that are now outdated: Grant and Gallucci halls. After the renovation is complete, the university will have 2,888 beds available for students.
University officials could work with brochure printers to create a mailer for prospective students, describing the unusual architecture of the new residence and inviting them to visit.