SAN JOSE — An SJSU student housing village in a landmark downtown San Jose tower is poised to create a vibrant living space — and further deepen San Jose State University’s roots in the city’s urban core.
Spartan Village on The Paseo is the name of the new student housing hub, which is inside the former southern tower of the Signia by Hilton, an iconic luxury hotel in downtown San Jose.
The housing tower places students in a lively urban core of San Jose, and also physically deepens the already wide-ranging economic and educational connections between SJSU and the downtown, in the view of university president Cynthia Teniente-Matson.
“When you are in Spartan Village, you get that sense of vibrancy and connection with downtown San Jose, a sense of positive energy with the urban lifestyle,” Teniente-Matson said in an interview with this news organization.
The Spartan Village complex is located at 170 South Market Street next to The Paseo de San Antonio and is a few blocks from the western edges of the university.
“San Jose may be the heart of Silicon Valley, but SJSU is the heart of San Jose,” Mayor Matt Mahan said. “Our Spartans are proving once again they’ve got the innovative spirit inherent to our region by transforming what was once a hotel to housing for 700 students.”
The 13-story housing tower, which will accommodate roughly 700 beds, is completely sold out as students flock to get a spot in the units. All the residences are luxury hotel rooms that were converted to student housing.
“The rooms are amazing, they are really nice and spacious,” said Angele Makihele, an SJSU student who will be living in Spartan Village. “This is a big step up from the other student housing. I’m looking forward to living here.”
The tower effectively creates a lively new pathway in the city’s urban heart that extends the physical reach of SJSU.
“Downtown San Jose is our campus,” said SJSU vice president for administration and finance Charlie Faas. “The students can not only live here, they can interact with the rest of the downtown. This all becomes our campus.”
The conversion also shows that the university has become a vital partner in efforts to revive downtown San Jose’s wobbly economy in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
“This is another moment in San Jose history where San Jose State gets it done,” said Bob Staedler, principal executive with Silicon Valley Synergy, a land-use consultancy.
Over the next few days, construction crews will craft finishing touches throughout the tower ahead of the student arrivals.
“The dedication of the workers is amazing,” said SJSU senior associate vice president of facilities development and operations Traci Ferdolage. “People are working seven days a week and more than eight-hour days,” Ferdolage said. “They are devoted to San Jose and the university.”
The total expense to convert the former hotel tower into student housing is about $45 million, Ferdolage estimated. That includes demolition, wide-ranging interior improvements and reconfiguring utilities. SJSU also has added 150 security cameras throughout the tower.
In November 2023, Throckmorton Partners, a real estate firm, paid $73 million to buy the south tower of the hotel. That kicked off a months-long effort to revamp the hotel tower.
“The tower opening before the start of the fall classes is impressive,” Staedler said. “The Paseo and nearby businesses will see greater activation and vibrancy.”
A sky bridge on the second floor has become a distinctive feature of the student housing tower.
“The bridge over The Paseo has been converted to a study lounge area,” SJSU president Teniente-Matson said. “You can plug in computers and have comfortable seating areas.”
That sky bridge extends to the rest of the second floor, which will become a gathering hub for Spartan Village and offer food served up by a Spartan Cafe.
“The second floor has a mini dining hall, a fitness center, gaming room and theater, offices for some of the leadership teams, and many gathering areas,” Teniente-Matson said.
The residential advisors slated to live in the new tower also are eager to embrace the accommodations.
“The rooms are awesome, they are massive,” said Emanual Phillip, a residential life coordinator. “This is very exciting to be living here, with all the views and the looks of the downtown.”
The students also are being wowed by the views from their windows. The students are living on the upper 11 floors above the second-floor common areas and the first-floor lobby.
“I was very happily surprised when I saw this place,” said Paloma Hubbard, a residence advisor. “I love my view.”
Teniente-Matson recalled that during the recent San Jose Jazz Festival, performers were on stage and also beneath the sky bridge. The SJSU president believes these are the types of events that will further connect the Spartan Village to what officials hope will be an increasingly lively downtown.
“You will see the San Jose State marching band going up and down The Paseo,” Teniente-Matson said. “SJSU will be more involved in community events, we will have more prominence for Christmas in the Park. We will see a lot more foot traffic going to the Hammer Theatre. We are going to see a lot more vibrancy downtown.”
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