This coming fall, UMass Lowell plans to house up to 350 students in a renovated DoubleTree Hotel.

The downtown 252-room hotel, which will be renamed the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center, will also host professional and academic conferences and other events.

“By combining educational excellence and strong partnerships in the community, UMass Lowell will establish a home base for activities that will enhance and showcase the University and the city. The plan's good for students and good for business,” said Chancellor Marty Meehan. “The Inn & Conference Center will transform this key facility in the heart of downtown into a social, cultural and intellectual hub.”

The University is working with the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, the National Park Service, Middlesex Community College and other organizations to partner on opportunities that will benefit the campus and the community.

Students will be within walking distance of Lowell’s many entertainment, restaurant and retail venues. Their purchasing power will add to the already sizeable economic impact of the University on the city, which includes $10 million in annual purchases of goods and services.

The Inn & Conference Center will retain some portion of the rooms for external booking and will continue to accommodate large-party conferences and functions. Faculty and staff are encouraged to book conferences and other events at the hotel by contacting the Office of Special Events at 978-934-3888.

The increased enrollment and popularity of campus life led to a waiting list of more than 400 students last fall. To accommodate students’ requests, UMass Lowell housed students at other sites, including the Radisson Hotel in Nashua, N.H.

A successful “Gotta Be Here” Campaign this spring resulted in more than 300 students expressing interest in living in the downtown hotel.

UMass Lowell is following successful models established by other universities around the country, including Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, University of New Mexico and Portland State University.