Graduate Hotels has announced plans for its new hotel in Princeton, NJ, slated to open in Spring 2024. This launch marks the 34th hotel in the brand’s portfolio, which comprises a distinctive and highly curated offering in dynamic university towns across the U.S. and U.K. Graduate Princeton will feature 180 guest rooms, as well as a signature food and beverage offering and nearly 6,000 sqft of public space decorated in the brand’s characteristic maximalist style.
Graduate Princeton is a hybrid adaptive reuse and new build project, sensitively restoring and expanding a 1918 building formerly used as a dormitory for university students. Design throughout the hotel will focus on intentional storytelling, inviting immersion and exploration at every touch point, full of rich textures, colors, and tributes to the building’s original Gothic architecture.
Ben Weprin, Founder and CEO, Graduate Hotels, said: “We’ve had our eyes on Princeton since the very beginning. This historic, idyllic town is the perfect backdrop for a Graduate. Our approach with this adaptive reuse project was to emulate as many of the original details as possible, and pay homage to the incredible heritage of the place with interesting and subtle design details – like our custom lamps inspired by revolutionary-war era cannons that were found buried behind the University’s Nassau Hall. The walls of this building are bursting with history, and soon our guests will be able to experience that for themselves.”
Hotel guests will discover subtle references to storied traditions and rites of passage synonymous with the Princeton student experience. A focal point of the interior design will be a two-story library lounge, lined with a collection of colourfully embroidered Senior Jackets (a token received by students upon graduating), featuring a thirty-foot custom carved wooden communal table for visitors to gather and connect.
The hotel’s community-focused food and beverage offering, The Varsity Club, will serve up a blend of seasonal, traditional, and comfort food, evoking a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of the classic American college experience. The establishment’s offering of an all-day menu will foster a cozy and welcoming atmosphere for guests to socialise, share stories and attend cultural events.
Kevin Osterhaus, President, Graduate Hotels, said: “The hotel’s location in the heart of Princeton’s historic district is unbeatable. The building’s architecture and history make it a landmark in the community and we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to restore and adapt it in order to welcome travellers and locals.”
Located on Nassau Street, Graduate Princeton sits directly opposite the historic university campus and will double the number of available accommodations in the town. The property – consistent with the wider Graduate portfolio – will celebrate the optimistic energy of its community, offering an extended retreat and authentic sense of place for all who visit.
