Portland, Maine. April 21, 2015 – The Olympia Companies will manage a state-of-the-art hotel that is currently being built in Oberlin, Ohio by Oberlin College. The property will anchor The Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center, the cornerstone of Oberlin’s Green Arts District, an ongoing development encompassing the northeast corner of North Main Street and East College Street. It is a planned 100,000-square-foot, mixed-use development that will incorporate renewable energy systems and other innovative technologies designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum rating.
“We’re honored to be chosen as the manager of this remarkable new property,” said Kevin Mahaney, president and CEO of The Olympia Companies. “It aligns with our approach to the campus hospitality market, which is to work with a college or university to extend their brand into the community, creating a seamless connection from campus-to-lodging for visitors.”
The property will be named in honor of Peter B. Lewis, the late philanthropist and chairman of Progressive Insurance Company, who has been recognized by Oberlin College for his $5 million gift toward the project, part of Oberlin’s $250 million comprehensive campaign.
“We’re excited that The Olympia Companies are coming on board,” said Oberlin College President Marvin Krislov. “The Gateway and the Green Arts District are important steps toward Oberlin’s goal of making this institution and city a model of sustainable economic development based on education and the arts.”
In addition to 70 guestrooms and suites, the hotel will feature a restaurant that highlights locally grown and sourced fare and a conference center with 6,500 square feet of meeting and event space. The complex will also include commercial and office space and a culinary training facility. Conceived as a catalyst for sustainable development and technological innovation in the Green Arts District, the Peter B. Lewis Gateway Center is envisioned to set a new standard for hotels and commercial buildings. Using locally sourced materials and thoughtful, provocative design, it will become a valuable amenity to both the campus and the community. Development of the Lewis Center and the Green Arts District is integral to the long-range plans of the Oberlin Project, a joint effort of the city and college to transform Oberlin into a model for sustainable economic development.
The hotel is expected to be completed and operational by late 2015. For more information, visit The Olympia Companies.
