The SBBCC Perspective: Celebrating New Construction of a World-Class Hotel

On June 15,2021 the groundbreaking ceremony was held at Radford University introducing The Highlander, a boutique-style hotel to be located on Tyler Avenue across from the main campus.

“Today’s event represents partnership in the truest form,” said Radford University Board of Visitors Rector Robert A. Archer. “We would not be here today to celebrate this important project without the leadership and the support of so many. This project will provide significant opportunities for the local community and the broader region. The availability and quality of this hotel will attract business and industry, as well as tourism.”

The event included some reminiscing about the early stages of the hotel planning process: the in-person brainstorming sessions that soon turned to Zoom conference calls in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. And, most importantly, talk about the tremendous amount of support behind the project and its future.

Stephen B. Ballard summarized this support by naming ‘the champions’ of the project. “On a project like this, you have to have three good champions, and I believe (former) President Hemphill, John Cox and Ramiro did a fantastic job pushing this project forward,” Ballard said. “This is going to be an amazing first-class facility.”

The Highlander

In partnership with the Radford University and Foundation, The Highlander Hotel is a ground up hotel and conference center which will be situated at the southwest corner of the Radford University Campus and feature 124 guestrooms, a 4,000sf ballroom, and a rooftop restaurant/bar overlooking the RU campus. Construction of the hotel began in the Summer of 2021, and is expected to be completed in late 2022. The hotel will sit along Tyler Avenue, fronting Draper Hall to become a visual centerpiece for vehicular traffic entering the downtown area. The building exterior design pulls from the architectural heritage of the Radford Campus, offering a contemporary interpretation of the Georgian architectural style that permeates the surrounding buildings. Large expanses of glass will line the ground floor, suites, and rooftop floor to capitalize on the stunning views across campus and connect with students and faculty walking to and from campus. The rooftop bar and restaurant will provide an additional event space with an outdoor terrace featuring unobstructed views overlooking the RU campus and surrounding hillside.

The interior design draws from the university history, bringing elements from school tradition and the towns Celtic heritage into a refined contemporary aesthetic. Local influences will resonate throughout the building, as the hotel looks to seamlessly integrate into the fabric of Radford and become a brilliant addition to this beautiful town!