NOTRE DAME, Ind.—Following a more than $30 million renovation and expansion, Morris Inn at the University of Notre Dame has reopened to the public. The hotel has been closed since the project began in October 2012.
The Gothic style exterior of the new Morris Inn aligns with the architecture of other campus buildings, while the hotel’s interior showcases a new design, highlighted by navy furnishings, light-colored custom millwork, and golden paint tones. The expansion increased the total square footage of the building from 72,000 to 137,500, and number of guestrooms from 92 to 150, allowing Morris Inn to better meet guest demand. The number of employees nearly doubled—with 120 currently on staff.
“Morris Inn has been completely reimagined to better serve our guests, while still preserving the spirit and tradition of the original hotel and supporting the academic mission of the university,” said Morris Inn Director and General Manager Joe Kurth. “We look forward to welcoming our guests ‘a thousand times over,’ as they experience everything the University of Notre Dame has to offer.”
The expansion also included the creation of a 300-seat ballroom and adjacent pre-function space with separate entrance at the north end of building. Morris Inn now offers 30,000 square feet of meeting space in conjunction with Notre Dame Conference Center.
While Morris Inn preserved the historic Sorin’s restaurant, located on the lobby level of the hotel, it added two new dining options: Rohr’s, a casual pub located off the lobby; and Fireside Terrace, an outdoor space, serving the menu from Rohr’s. Three new private dining rooms were also added.
Currently seeking LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the new Morris Inn incorporates a number of sustainable features and practices including, a ‘green roof’ for stormwater management and improved air quality, an extensive recycling program, water filtration systems on every floor, and LED lights throughout the building.
Owned and operated by the University of Notre Dame, Morris Inn was built on the campus in 1952 as the first structure of the Notre Dame post-war building program. It was made possible through a donation from 1906 Notre Dame alumnus, Ernest M. Morris and his wife, Ella L. Morris. In 2012, their daughter, Ernestine Morris Carmichael Raclin, along with her family and the Carmichael Foundation, provided a gift to the university for the purpose of funding a major renovation and expansion of the Morris Inn.
“Thanks to the generosity and leadership of longtime Notre Dame friends, Ernestine Raclin and her family, Morris Inn is now positioned to continue the university’s tradition of outstanding hospitality, service and excellence,” said John Affleck-Graves, executive vice president of University of Notre Dame.
