“The University of Akron finalized its plans Tuesday to use Quaker Square as both a hotel and as a residence hall under the new name the Quaker Square Inn at UA. The complex will house 95 hotel rooms on the first four floors and 95 student rooms on the top four floors.”
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The University of Akron finalized its plans Tuesday to use Quaker Square as both a hotel and as a residence hall under the new name the Quaker Square Inn at UA.
The complex will house 95 hotel rooms on the first four floors and 95 student rooms on the top four floors. Hotel management will remain unchanged from the current RDA Management – which has ran the hotel for a year – and all business tenant and retail store contracts will continue to be honored.
The university expects the complex to house students after Jan. 1, 2008.
UA vice president for capital planning, Ted Curtis, said students will be able to live alongside hotel guests with ease.
He said each room is completely soundproof, preventing students from bothering hotel guests and vice versa.
Each room is completely surrounded by seven-inch concrete walls, and eight-inch concrete floors, Curtis said.
Curtis also said the amenities offered to hotel guests, such as a swimming pool, conference rooms, exercise area and continental breakfast will not be available to students.
The swimming pools are on level two, so first, you (students) can’t get in that level, and if somehow (they) do, then the pool has a card key to keep them out, he said. That’s for everybody’s safety.
President Luis Proenza said in a UA press release Tuesday that the university has no plans to change the historic landmark.
We are proud to assume the stewardship of this historic facility as a part of our ongoing New Landscape for Learning initiative, Proenza said. We realize Quaker Square’s importance as a national landmark for the company founded by Ferdinand Schumacher, and we will preserve its cultural and architectural integrity as it becomes a part of the university.
According to UA, Quaker Square Inn at UA will still host banquets and meetings as well as offer hotel rooms.
The University of Akron announced its plans to purchase Quaker Square from Jay Nusbaum for $22.6 million in June of this year.
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