AJ Capital Partners has announced the opening of the Graduate Minneapolis, the 10th hotel in the brand’s portfolio. Formerly the Commons Hotel, the property spans eight stories and 304 guestrooms along the East Bank campus of the University of Minnesota.
“Minneapolis simultaneously embraces city living and the outdoors,” says Andrew Alford, chief creative officer of AJ Capital. “We were inspired by town’s beautiful landscape and lush lakes. We also wanted to pay homage to the many creatives who hail from the Twin Cities, including Mary Tyler Moore, Prince, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.”
Conceived by Alford, the hotel’s design is influenced by the Midwestern city’s Norwegian heritage and active lifestyle. The aesthetic evokes a cozy lake house mixed with the adventurous spirit of Minneapolis. The lobby greets visitors with rotating food carts as well as the neighborhood gastropub, the Beacon. A dramatic fireplace is surrounded by an art wall that depicts a lush vista alongside intimate lounge seating. Chandeliers are crafted from vintage snow shoes and fishing flies.
The woodland-inspired guestrooms reference local luminaries, from desk lamps modeled after the 1964 Corvette Stingray to the legendary musician and Minnesota native Prince. The Graduate Minneapolis is also home to more than 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including two large ballrooms.
