SYRACUSE — The well-known venue has hosted wedding receptions, banquets, and campus visitors for all types of functions at Syracuse University, but moving forward, it will serve a different purpose. The university on Nov. 8 announced it plans to convert the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center into a nearly 400-bed, on-campus residence hall, […]
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SYRACUSE — The well-known venue has hosted wedding receptions, banquets, and campus visitors for all types of functions at Syracuse University, but moving forward, it will serve a different purpose.
The university on Nov. 8 announced it plans to convert the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center into a nearly 400-bed, on-campus residence hall, following graduation next May.
The announcement follows approval from the university’s board of trustees. The hotel is located at 801 University Ave., between Marshall Street and Waverly Avenue.
The move seeks to satisfy student demand for more alternatives for university housing on campus and advance “the vision and strategic priorities of the Campus Framework,” Syracuse University said in a news release.
“Today’s students are looking for a college experience that includes challenging academic programs, diverse extracurricular opportunities and comfortable, modern housing,” Allen Groves, senior VP and chief student experience officer, said in the release. “Over the last several years, Syracuse University has transformed and enhanced student-centric facilities, including the Schine Student Center and the Barnes Center at The Arch, located at the heart of our campus and central to our students’ experience. By converting the Sheraton into a residence hall, we are creating new housing opportunities that make it easier for our students, especially our first-year and transfer students, to acclimate to life at Syracuse, find their community and develop a sense of belonging.”
The decision follows the completion of a comprehensive, three-year housing review that found undergraduate students “wanted more options” for living in university housing on North Campus that provide “seamless access” to various campus facilities and amenities, the university explained.
The Sheraton will close following the 2024 commencement, at which point conversion of the property will begin. The new residence hall is anticipated to open in the fall of 2024.
The Sheraton currently employs about 85 full-time people who hold a variety of hospitality-related positions. All Sheraton employees will be offered positions at the university, many of which will be union roles, and will transition to those new opportunities once the Sheraton has closed following commencement.
“The Sheraton team has played an enormously important role in our campus community for many years,” John Papazoglou, senior VP and chief operations officer, said. “We appreciate their hard work and continued service, and look forward to working directly with these team members on helping them transition to new opportunities at the University.”
Sheraton representatives will contact guests and groups with reservations scheduled after commencement to discuss alternate arrangements for accommodations, Syracuse University said.
“As part of our Campus Framework, a 20-year roadmap designed to align our physical presence with our vision and mission, Syracuse University is continuously assessing our footprint and considering ways to enhance and strengthen the living, learning and working environment for all members of our community,” Brett Padgett, senior VP and CFO, said in the release. “This includes renovating and repurposing existing space, procuring new space and working with community partners to identify opportunities for collaboration. The Sheraton presented an ideal opportunity to reimagine how our current space is leveraged and repurpose it to put it toward its best and highest use.”