Union Club Hotel reopens after transformative $35m renovation

by | 16 Aug 2020 | Hotel Openings, Projects, Refurbishments

Purdue University’s iconic on-campus hotel, which is managed by White Lodging, has been given a new lease of life thanks to an ambitious US$35 million regeneration programme.

The Union Club Hotel, a historic building set within Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana, has undergone a yearlong renovation that involved a complete makeover of its guest rooms and common areas. The stylish property will also be used by students as a learning centre.

Hospitality excellence at Purdue University

The Union Club Hotel at Purdue University is welcoming a new era of excellence in hospitality following transformative construction and maintenance works. The historic property, which first opened in 1929, has seen its 182 bedrooms upgraded and its common areas given a contemporary update, while three new F&B concepts have also been introduced.

Vicki Wicks, general manager at Union Club Hotel, said: “It’s truly an amazing hotel with all the modern amenities guests are looking for and showcases Purdue’s legacy in so many ways. We want our alumni to be proud of the new hotel, and those that didn’t attend Purdue to be impressed enough to share the experience with their friends and colleagues after their stay.”

The property is managed by White Lodging, a leading hotel development and management company founded by Purdue alumnus Bruce White in 1985. The hotel will also act as a real-world laboratory for students of the hospitality and tourism management school programme being introduced from 2021.

History meets modernity in Indiana

The newly designed property channels the classic spirit of American collegiate culture, with references to Purdue’s legacy abounding in all corners of the hotel. These allusions to Purdue’s history can be found most explicitly in the names and concepts of the three new eateries.

The 8Eleven Bistro is inspired by two of NASA’s most famous missions, Gemini 8 and Apollo 11, both of which were led by Purdue alumnus Neil Armstrong, while the Boiler Up Bar will take recipes for its cocktails and food from innovations made by students and graduates at the College of Agriculture. Meanwhile, Leaps Coffee & Artisan Pastries takes its cue from the university’s trailblazers who have made great strides in their respective fields, improving them in ‘leaps and bounds’.

The hotel is also abiding by the StayConfident programme to ensure guests remain safe and healthy during their stay. The initiative includes using contactless operations wherever possible, employing advanced cleaning and disinfection procedures, and prioritising individualised and socially distanced services.