RIT acquires former Radisson hotel property adjacent to campus

Rochester Institute of Technology has acquired a hotel adjacent to the university’s Henrietta campus. Rochester Airport Hospitality LLC gifted RIT the former Radisson Hotel Rochester Airport located at 175 Jefferson Road.

The property includes 171 bedrooms, conference room spaces, a large indoor pool, a kitchen and dining area, and more. Located at the corner of Jefferson Road and Lomb Memorial Drive, the property is situated close to the core of campus, which RIT officials say creates exciting opportunities.

“We are excited about this piece of property and the future that it can hold for us at RIT,” said Howard Ward, associate vice president of Student Auxiliary Services. “We have visions of this being a gorgeous location for people to live, eat, and bring guests. We are grateful to the previous owners for donating this generous gift to the university.”

The former hotel was still operating and hosting guests until it was transferred to RIT, so the university is quickly making short-term changes so that they can house students there if needed this fall. In order to promote physical distancing and help prevent the spread of coronavirus, only two students will be allowed to room together in residence halls, which has created need for additional rooms. The kitchen, dining area, and pool will not be available for use immediately, and if students are housed at the former hotel, they will be able to have food delivered from the main campus.

While RIT secured more than 600 rooms at local brand-name hotels for students who are required to adhere to the 14-day quarantine mandated by the New York State Travel Advisory and reside in university housing, the former Radisson hotel is not a part of that arrangement and will not be used for that purpose.

Ward said that in the long-term, RIT plans to renovate the entire facility and use it for housing students and university guests.