Graduate Hotel East Lansing — Photo by AJ Capital Partners
Graduate Hotel East Lansing — Photo by AJ Capital Partners
Graduate Hotel East Lansing — Photo by AJ Capital Partners

Graduate Hotels is excited to announce that Graduate East Lansing opened its doors. The 194-room, 10-story hotel opened as part of the Graduate Hotels collection at 133 Evergreen Avenue. Located blocks from the Michigan State University campus and offering unmatched views of campus and Spartan Stadium, the hotel is designed in homage to the community, the great state of Michigan, MSU traditions, and school legends. In addition to guest rooms and common spaces that beam in Spartan pride, Graduate East Lansing will offer two forthcoming distinct food and beverage offerings including Poindexter, Graduate Hotels' signature all-day cafe concept and Graduate Rock Bar, a rooftop bar offering spirited decor, celebratory cocktails and impressive 360-degree views.

Created for travelers who seek memory-making journeys, Graduate Hotels® is a hand-crafted collection of hotels that reside in dynamic university-anchored towns across the country and expanding into the U.K. in summer 2021. Each property celebrates and commemorates the optimistic energy of its community, while offering an extended retreat to places that often play host to the best days of our lives.

Design throughout Graduate East Lansing honors MSU history, local legends, and university traditions. In the lobby, guests are welcomed with a statement cross-stitch installation made from shoelaces portraying Spartan basketball legend and East Lansing native, Magic Johnson. Hanging prominently behind the front desk, the custom piece takes inspiration from Johnson's iconic 1978 Sports Illustrated cover. Shades of MSU green and warm, earthy wood tones create a sense of place throughout the expansive common spaces and pay homage to the state's natural bounty. Agricultural details such as wheat and cherry blossoms are incorporated into the front desk millwork, nodding to the school's previous history as Michigan Agricultural College ("MAC").

In guest rooms, school pride takes center stage. Deep MSU green wood grained walls are complemented with plaid tufted headboards and light fixtures adorning Spartan shields. Art depicting corn stalks honors MSU alum James Beal, who developed the 24-row corn farming system. Echoing the earthy feel throughout common spaces, guest rooms establish a warm, woodsy energy throughout.

Graduate East Lansing will soon launch two unique food and beverage concepts. Located on the ground-floor adjacent to the lobby, Poindexter is Graduate Hotels' signature all-day café concept serving coffee, pastries, light bites, and grab-and-go items. Located atop the hotel is Graduate Rock Bar. The rooftop bar will offer spirited decor, celebratory cocktails and impressive 360-degree views of campus, Spartan Stadium and beyond. The design provides a year-round summer camp feel with custom woodwork, notes of plaid, and an iconic airstream travel trailer inspired food counter. In addition to these concepts, Graduate East Lansing will offer more than 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.

Hotel website