Beginning April 7, visitors to Saint Louis University will have a new accommodation choice that is within walking distance of the Frost campus and Chaifetz Arena. Construction on Hotel Ignacio, a new “boutique” hotel located on Olive Boulevard adjacent to Triumph Grill, is set to wrap up by the end of the month.

Though construction is still ongoing on the exterior of the building and on the street in front of the hotel, interior work is nearly complete. SLU partnered with the Lawrence Group, a private development company, on the design direction for the hotel. The hotel was first brought to the attention of the University community by SLU President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. last year in a press release.

According to Steve Smith, CEO of the Lawrence Group, a few stages of construction remain before the first guests arrive for check-in. Interior work is nearly complete and furniture and electronics are being installed over the next two weeks. Weather permitting, work on the exterior of the building will wrap up mid-March, with landscaping and planting to begin shortly after.

Smith said the interior of the building remained completely on-schedule, but two weeks of construction were lost on the exterior due to weather. Exterior construction was also slowed down by a modification to the streets in front of the hotel.

Prior to construction, Lindell Boulevard and Olive met at a Y-intersection in front of the hotel property. Smith said this was a dangerous intersection to cross with the way the roads came together, but the Lawrence Group found a way to make it a better and safer vehicle interchange.

The intersection will morph from a Y-intersection to a normal 90-degree intersection. Olive will come down to Triumph Grill and hit a right angle at Lindell, which will “make it much safer to cross the street to get from the hotel over to the campus and arena,” Smith said.

Construction is also still taking place on a Spanish-style café to be included in the first floor of the hotel called “Pintxos,” inspired by tapas from the Basque region of Spain. This element was incorporated into the design since the hotel is named for the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola, who hailed from the Basque region. The café will be open to hotel guests and the general public and construction should be completed by March 15.

The interior of the hotel features 49 guest rooms and two suites. Janice Crawford, assistant vice president of Business Services at SLU, the hotel is based on four art themes:  fine art, performing arts, architecture and music, and will display a rotating University-owned art collection.

Ignacio is labeled a “boutique” hotel, which indicates the hotel is independent and not part of a major hotel chain.

“When you think of a chain hotel, they [all] feel the same,” Smith said. “[Igancio] is boutique because it’s unique.”

To stay consistent with this image, Equis Hospitality Management was given a five-year contract to manage the hotel.

“After a competitive review process, Equis was selected based on their proven track record of effectively managing hotels and for offering a more cost-effective business plan for Hotel Ignacio,” Crawford said.

John Dalton, general manager of Hotel Ignacio, said Equis is the right company to manage the hotel because it has a good history of working with different hotel brands. He is currently in the process of hiring hotel employees, some of which will be students from the University.

After construction is completed April 2, both the University and the Lawrence Group will have an ongoing role in the hotel’s operations.

“From a business and art standpoint, I think the University will remain very active,” Smith said.

Smith also owns the neighboring Moto Museum and Triumph Grill and said the Lawrence Group will provide food services to the hotel through its restaurant subsidiary.

Hotel Ignacio will primarily serve the University community and the Grand Arts Center, a neighborhood Dalton said has been underserved in the hotel scene.

The University also owns the Water Tower Inn, which is located on Grand Boulevard next to the Salus Center on the Health Sciences Campus. Other than the two University-owned hotels, visitors do not have the option to stay in a hotel within walking distance of the campuses. Crawford said Hotel Ignacio plans to offer “a great new place to stay for our parents and alumni, prospective students and their families, and guests of the University.”

The University web site has a list of nearby hotels recommended by guests, which includes various hotel chains located downtown or near Forest Park. These hotels are listed as either “typically less than $100 per night” or “typically between $100-$150 per night.” At the Water Tower Inn, the rate is $75 per night for anyone visiting the University.

For Hotel Ignacio, the rates will average around $209 per night, according to Dalton. This rate is dependent upon the time of year, weekends and events going on in Grand Arts Center or at the University.

“Everyone comes to us out of desire. They’re looking for something unusual. They’re seeking that experience,” Dalton said. “Not everyone is willing to spend two-to-three times more and [we] have to live up to that responsibility.”

Rate information and a booking system will not be available through the hotel’s website until the end of the month. If guests would like to reserve a space, a contact email address is listed. Dalton said the hotel is already more than 50 percent sold for the month of April.

Though the hotel is affiliated with the University, it will not receive the same not-for-profit benefits. “The hotel ownership structure differs from other University endeavors in that it is owned in partnership with another business owner,” Crawford said. “Therefore, it is registered as a for-profit entity and will be managed as such.”

While Hotel Ignacio is priced higher than other hotels in the area, Dalton said it offers a unique and intimate atmosphere for its guests.

“There’s nothing like it in St. Louis,” Dalton said.

The Hotel Ignacio construction represents the University’s commitment to the neighborhood surrounding the campus. The University does not have any specific plans for other projects of this type in the near future, but according to Crawford, possible projects are always considered.

“We’re always exploring opportunities to help increase the vibrancy and vitality of our neighborhood,” Crawford said.