Johnson & Wales plans $42M renovation of Charlotte residence hall

By AI, Created 7:20 PM UTC, May 19, 2026, /AGP/ – Johnson & Wales University will spend about $42 million to overhaul The Maple on its Charlotte campus into a mixed-use residence hall and student services hub. The two-year project adds 150 upper-class rooms, an admissions welcome center and expanded campus support space as JWU Charlotte builds on enrollment and program growth.

Why it matters: - The renovation gives Johnson & Wales University a larger, more integrated hub for housing and student support on its Charlotte campus. - The project is designed to improve student life while backing the university’s expansion in hospitality, culinary arts, business and health programs. - The investment also signals continued confidence in the Charlotte campus and its role in the local economy.

What happened: - Johnson & Wales University announced plans to fully renovate The Maple, a 97,000-square-foot residence hall on West Trade Street in Charlotte, North Carolina. - The project will convert the building into a mixed-use facility with housing and student services. - The university expects the work to take about two years. - Johnson & Wales University expects to invest about $42 million in the project. - The funding will come from investment reserves and philanthropy from individuals, corporations and foundations. - The university is working with 3Ten Construction Commercial Contractor and Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, both based in Charlotte. - Both firms have already completed early-phase work on the project.

The details: - The Maple was built in 1988 and purchased by Johnson & Wales University in 2004 from Bank of America. - The building previously operated as a DoubleTree by Hilton hotel for 20 years, until 2024. - Initial capital work was completed in 2024 to convert the hotel into a residence hall for upper-class students. - After one year of student residency, the university began more significant improvements and completed early work for the larger renovation. - The first floor will include a parking garage with about 20 spaces inside the building. - The lower first floor will become an admissions welcome center and a student lounge during off-hours, covering about 6,500 square feet. - The second floor will house student services, including academic success, financial services, student affairs, student academic services, experiential education and career services. - Floors 3 through 8 will be residential, with 150 rooms and 276 student beds. - Each residential room will include a bathroom. - The residential floors will also include laundry facilities on each floor and lounges for studying or socializing. - Some floors will include a community kitchen for skills practice. - Press images are available through the building renderings link included in the announcement.

Between the lines: - The renovation follows a year of notable Charlotte campus milestones. - Last June, the North Carolina Board of Governors approved JWU Charlotte to offer a 90-credit, three-year degree in Hospitality Management under the university’s current accreditation. - JWU Charlotte became the first institution in the Southeast to offer that degree. - In August, the university awarded its first Nursing degree graduates accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. - In the fall, JWU said Charlotte enrollment reached its highest level since 2020, driven mainly by the Culinary Arts program. - The project appears aimed at matching facility quality with the campus’s academic momentum, not just adding beds.

What’s next: - Construction will move ahead over the next two years as the Maple is transformed into a mixed-use campus center. - The renovated facility is expected to serve as both a residence hall and a front door for student services and admissions activity. - Johnson & Wales says the updated building will support its Charlotte campus strategy for culinary, hospitality, business and health and wellness education.

The bottom line: - Johnson & Wales is betting $42 million that a revamped Maple can strengthen student life and reinforce Charlotte’s role as a growing campus hub.