NEW YORK CITY—AJ Capital Partners and Cornell University have revealed plans to build a hotel on the university's new Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island. Named Graduate Roosevelt Island, the 196-room ground-up property is slated to open in 2019.

Cornell Tech, which will open the first phase of the new campus September 2017, extending Cornell University's research and academic prowess to the heart of New York City by bringing together faculty, business leaders, tech entrepreneurs and students in a catalytic environment to produce visionary results.

The property will include a full-service restaurant, rooftop bar with views of Manhattan, and 5,200 square feet of flexible meeting and event facilities for hotel guests and the Roosevelt Island community.

Designed by architectural firm Snohetta, the hotel will be in the heart of the campus alongside the Verizon Executive Education Center, which will have conference, executive program and academic workshop space, also opening in 2019.

The first phase of Cornell Tech's Roosevelt Island campus—opening in September—will include three buildings: The Bloomberg Center, the campus' first academic building; The Bridge, a building for innovative companies to locate on campus; and The House, a residential building for students, faculty and staff that aims to become the world's first high-rise residential building constructed to “Passive House” energy efficiency standards.

When fully completed, the campus will span 12 acres on Roosevelt Island and house approximately 2,000 students and hundreds of faculty and staff.

The campus master plan includes a number of innovative features and facilities across a river-to-river campus with expansive views, a series of green, public spaces, and a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor areas. The campus will be one of the most environmentally friendly and energy-efficient campuses in the world.

“Graduate Roosevelt Island is the type of transformative project that has come to epitomize our company,” says Ben Weprin, founder and CEO of AJ Capital Partners. “The hotel will sit prominently at the gateway to Cornell Tech, the most innovative academic campus in the world; and will offer guests, campus visitors and Roosevelt Island citizens a truly distinctive and unique experience. We couldn't be more excited to partner with Cornell University and to introduce Graduate Hotels to New York City.”

Adds Dan Huttenlocher, Cornell VP and dean of Cornell Tech, “Cornell is thrilled to partner with AJ Capital Partners for a hotel on our Roosevelt Island campus. Their unique aesthetic combined with the world-class architecture of Snohetta will be an asset for Cornell, the Roosevelt Island community and New York City. The Graduate Roosevelt Island hotel will reflect the unique history of the island and, along with the Verizon Executive Education Center, it will create a place where the entire tech community can convene in New York City, expanding the impact our campus will have on technology beyond its degree programs.”

Graduate Hotels are part of a collection of hotels that reside in university-anchored markets across the country. Locations include Ann Arbor, MI.; Athens, GA.; Charlottesville, VA.; Madison, WI.; Oxford, MS.; and Tempe, AZ. In addition, properties are opening this year in Berkeley, CA.; Lincoln, NE.; Minneapolis, MN; and Richmond, VA, as well as Bloomington, IN. and Seattle, WA. in 2018.

When fully completed, the campus will span 12 acres on Roosevelt Island and house approximately 2,000 students and hundreds of faculty and staff.

Instant Insights /

Ground-Up Hotel Project Planned for Roosevelt Island

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