The Grand Gardner Hotel is now taking reservations, turning a prominent piece of Valparaiso history into a new hospitality project built around adaptive reuse.
Work began in 2023 on the former Grand Gardner School, originally built in 1899 and known for its ornate Romanesque-style design. The redevelopment, led by Urschel Development Corp., kept the original school structure as a centerpiece of the finished hotel at 354 W. Jefferson St.
Project partners included Ratio Architects for architecture, IIG for design, Cornerstone for operations, and Tonn and Blank for demolition and sitework. The City of Valparaiso provided oversight and permitting support.
The 67,000-square-foot property uses the original school building for key guest-facing spaces, including the lobby, kitchen, six guest suites, and a speakeasy bar and lounge. Overall, the hotel includes 52 guest rooms, six suites, and event and meeting venues.
For contractors, the job is a clear example of how adaptive reuse work hinges on coordination across trades and stakeholders. This project tied together demolition and sitework, design decisions, and local permitting, all while keeping an 1800s-era structure in the plan from day one. It also shows the staffing reality of complex redevelopment, with 60 construction professionals involved during the build and about 25 permanent employees now running the hotel.
Funding included $1.5 million in state READI 1.0 funds, plus $6.8 million in public investment and $29.7 million from private investors, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. Room rates reported for the hotel range from $221 to $295 per night, depending on day and room.
Read the full, original article from Northwest Indiana Business Magazine here.