PRESS RELEASE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — January 10, 2024 – Today, Johnson & Wales University announced that this summer it will convert DoubleTree by Hilton Charlotte Uptown located on West Trade Street in uptown Charlotte into a student housing hub for upperclassmen. The plan calls for DoubleTree by Hilton to operate as a hotel through the end of June and with student occupancy to begin in the fall of 2024. This decision was based upon extensive evaluation of existing on-campus residential housing options, the university’s strategic plan to increase enrollment, and the priority to extend the campus footprint to create a more cohesive collegiate atmosphere for the Charlotte Campus.
Since the university purchased DoubleTree by Hilton from Bank of America almost 20 years ago, the hotel, which has been managed by Hilton, has warmly welcomed guests to the campus community and has offered a comfortable and welcoming experience for travelers to Charlotte’s uptown.
“We are excited for the hotel facility to formally be integrated into our campus footprint, providing a more recognizable and cohesive residential landscape for Johnson & Wales University,” shares JWU Charlotte Campus President Richard Mathieu, Ph.D. “Additionally, we are confident that this expansion will strengthen the cultural vibrancy of the Gateway Center and the Gateway Village, thus cultivating positive relationships with our uptown and Third Ward community partners.”
A local architectural firm has been hired to help Johnson & Wales with the vision to transform the space into modern student housing with upscale amenities and to redesign the Academic Center Courtyard and Gateway Center promenade to create a dynamic focal point for the Charlotte Campus.
"The university has valued its partnership with the hotel management and staff over the years and has long felt that they are members of the JWU community, particularly this year as over forty students were temporarily relocated to the facility until additional on-campus housing became available," said Mathieu. "Over the years they have warmly welcomed our campus guests, modeling the level of hospitality we strive for at JWU."
DoubleTree by Hilton’s transformation to student housing will be one of the many ways Johnson & Wales will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Charlotte this year. Welcoming the Charlotte Campus’s first cohort of accelerated Bachelor of Science nursing students in May of 2024 is another step in Johnson & Wales being at the forefront of where food, hospitality, and health & wellness converge.
“Johnson & Wales University remains dedicated to fostering a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and student success,” said Mathieu. “We look forward to continuing our mission of transforming lives and empowering our students through experiential learning to become the leaders and innovators of tomorrow.”
About JWU
Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU’s unique model provides students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative; we are proud of our career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide.
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