University renovates former Uptown hotel into dorms
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Rendering: Provided by JWU
Johnson & Wales University is embarking on a $42 million renovation of its former hotel-turned-residence hall in Charlotte's Third Ward.
Why it matters: It's another prominent Uptown building conversion in the works, joining projects like Brooklyn & Church, The Johnston Building, the former Two Wells Fargo Center and 400 South Tryon.
Zoom in: The 8-story, 97,000-square-foot building — formerly the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel — will be gutted and redone with 150 upperclassmen rooms and 276 beds.
- It's also getting a 6,500-square-foot admissions welcome center that doubles as a nightly student lounge, new student services, and upgraded mechanical and building systems, according to a press release.
Flashback: JWU purchased the 1988 building in 2004 for $8.4 million. It operated as the hotel until 2024.
- Students then lived in the building, called "The Maple," during the 2024–25 academic year while work was done to adapt it for dorm life. But the university decided to close it in May 2025 to complete the full renovation at once.
- "We always knew that we would make more improvements," a university spokesperson tells Axios. "Not all the floors were converted and opened during that year. We also had planned to complete exterior work on windows and cladding."
What's next: Construction should take about two years.
📍 895 West Trade St.
