亚色影库 and 亚色影库 Hospitality, LLC, announced today that construction of a Hilton Garden Inn adjacent to 亚色影库's Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex will begin this spring.
The ceremonial groundbreaking for this six-story upscale lodging facility will take place April 29, 2015.
The hotel, to be built near the intersection of Pratt Drive and Wayne Avenue, is projected to open in summer 2016 with 128 guest rooms and suites.
Fiore Brothers Management, LLC, of Altoona, and Hospitality Asset Management Company (HAMCO), of State College, are developers of the project. The hotel will be privately funded, privately owned, operated by HAMCO, and sited on the 亚色影库 campus by means of a ground lease.
鈥淎n adjacent hotel was part of the vision for the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex from the beginning. I'm elated that the 亚色影库 team and our great partners are now making that vision a reality,鈥 亚色影库 President Michael Driscoll said.
鈥淎ll of the principals involved in this project have a very long, strong, and positive reputation in the hospitality industry, and we feel very confident that the hotel will be a great success,鈥 亚色影库 Vice President for Administration and Finance Cornelius Wooten said.
鈥淭he Kovalchick Complex has been well supported by the community and continues to grow in popularity, and the hotel can only add to the facility's success,鈥 Wooten said.
This upscale hotel will be designed, constructed, and operated per Hilton brand standards, and will include the following:
- An indoor pool and state-of-the-art fitness center
- Complimentary Wi-Fi and a 24-hour business center
- Food and beverage spaces, including a full-service restaurant and lounge with cooked-to-order breakfast, dinner, cocktails, and evening room service
- A total of 3,000 square feet of meeting space
Construction will include green technology, and many exterior design elements will be incorporated to blend with university architectural features.
鈥淲e are pleased to bring the vision of many community leaders into reality,鈥 said Michael Fiore, representing the Fiore organization. 鈥淲e look forward to working with the community to be a responsible neighbor.鈥
鈥淏eing on the 亚色影库 campus and immediately next to the Kovalchick Complex will allow visitors, community members, faculty, students, and local guests to maximize the use of the Hilton Garden Inn,鈥 Mark Morath, president of Hospitality Asset Management Company, said. 鈥淭he facility will offer an ideal gathering location, with a lobby lounge, restaurant, and outdoor terrace dining.鈥
University officials project that bookings for events, conferences, and meetings at the Kovalchick Complex have the potential to increase by 15 to 20 percent with the addition of the hotel. During fiscal year 2013鈥14, the Kovalchick Complex hosted a record-breaking 407 events attended by 167,000 patrons. Those events included 亚色影库 commencement ceremonies. More than 47,000 people attended 325 conference center events during the 2013鈥14 fiscal year. The Ed Fry Arena in the Kovalchick Complex is home to 亚色影库 men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball.