From check-in to move-in: WKU turns hotel into hall

Check-In Meets Move-In, Former Hotel Becomes WKU’s Newest Dorm

BOWLING GREEN, Ky – The ding of an elevator now signals the start of student life for more than 200 Western Kentucky University students.

WKU’s newest residence hall, Center Hall, was once the Hyatt Place hotel before this summer. The university leased the building after closing two major dorms, Normal Hall and Regents Hall, due to construction issues, removing about 600 beds from campus housing.

“As you all know, in May, the Student Life Foundation announced that we would need to temporarily close Normal and Regents,” said housing official Dr. Catherine LaRoche. “So we need to think about, you know, what are some other spaces that we can provide our students that also represent the premier living experience that we expect our students to have. And so the Student Life Foundation had made this agreement with Hyatt license. So that was, we felt that was a great solution for our students and to create, generate more beds.”

The converted hotel offers private bathrooms, hotel-style rooms with couches and even a pool outside.

“It’s amazing. You know, it’s, you get to go to like a hotel, and the hotel is very nice, very clean, organized,” said freshman baseball player Ethan Reynolds. “We get our own bathroom. We have a pool outside that we’ve already been to. Our parking garage is right outside the door, and so, easy walks, and it’s just very accessible to everything. It’s very nice.”

WKU replaced king beds with extra-long twin beds, added wardrobes, desks, and laundry facilities, and moved dining options Java City and The Spread into the lobby.

“They like that there’s a pool, that’s been a popular piece as well to it. They are happy that we moved dining over here as well,” the housing official said. “I’ve actually heard very positive feedback from our students about the experience here, and they’re excited.”

For Reynolds, the biggest surprise is how quickly it felt like home. “It’s definitely, kind of exceeded my expectations of everything, and so, very exciting for that.”

The university says they are leasing Center Hall, but for now, the former hotel is one of the most in-demand addresses on campus. For more information about WKU’s Center Hall, visit their website.