Texas A&M University System officials provided a construction update on the on-campus hotel and conference center on June 9 during a press conference held on site.
The building is still currently under construction and is expected to be complete by Sept. 1, 2018. A model room is expected to be available for visitors to tour in mid-July.
The hotel will feature 250 rooms, including 12 luxury suites, a full service bar and restaurant, fitness center and pool. The hotel will also have a significant amount of conference space and break-out rooms.
“This is the amenity our campus has needed to help our students get jobs and attract conferences,” Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp said. “We think it is unequalled.”
The hotel was Sharp’s vision, according to Texas A&M Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Phillip Ray. Inspired by the on-campus hotels at other Southeastern Conference universities, system officials said A&M’s hotel will outdo the hotels at other universities.
The hotel is funded through a public-private partnership, or P3, between A&M and the National Campus and Community Development Corporation (NCCD) of Austin. By using private money in conjunction with university funds, A&M is able to reduce the use of university funds for projects.
“It’s a prudent use of those resources, [a] prudent use to manage our debt capacity and maintain that triple-A credit rating, which is non-negotiable,” Ray said.
According to NCCD president Greg Eden, both Cain Garage and the off-campus student apartments Park West have been funded through P3 partnerships.
The projects NCCD has helped fund total approximately $561 million.
Sharp said with the building of these structures along with the renovation of Kyle Field, A&M is experiencing its biggest building boom in history.
System officials added that because A&M has used private money to fund these projects, revenue will go back to the university.
Texas A&M University hotel to be finished in fall 2018
June 12, 2017
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