Chestnut Street — Photo by Hersha Hospitality Management (HHM)

Harrisburg University announced plans today to partner with the hotel chain HHM to build an upscale, 197-room boutique hotel in the 19-story tower planned for Third and Chestnut streets in the city.

HHM, short for Hersha Hospitality Management, has a regional office on Second Street in Harrisburg.

"We couldn't be more excited," University President Eric Darr said in a statement. "Obviously, they're committed to the region and to the city of Harrisburg. They've been long-time supporters of the university."

According to the press release, the hotel will front Chestnut Street and be separated from the university campus by an atrium in the first ten stories of the building.

Harrisburg University plans to begin building the tower in late July and open it by summer 2021. The university and the hotelier would share space on 10 of the floors. The remaining seven floors would be used entirely by Harrisburg University.

Harrisburg University offers more details on new tower

New mixed-use tower at 3rd and Chestnut will rise 19 stories.

The educational space in the tower is slated to accommodate at least 1,000 new students and a health science education center that will offer programs in nursing, pharmaceutical sciences and other allied health programs.

HHM owns about 125 hotels under a variety of brands, including Westin, Hilton and Hyatt. They operate five hotels in the Philadelphia area: The Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City, The Independent, The Westin Philadelphia, The Rittenhouse Hotel and Homewood Suites University City.

Hotel website