The Study at Yale Hotel

A recently built, 7-story modern flat-rooved hotel made largely of glass and wood, sits prominently on Chapel Street. The hotel is sleek, sophisticated, and in excellent condition. Its sophistication suits Chapel West’s growing reputation as New Haven’s Arts District.   On the first floor of the building is the Heirloom Restaurant, where observers can witness diners, usually business people, eating meals or conducting business meetings.  

The Colony Hotel existed at this site from 1963 through 2006.

According to the 1886 Sanborn Map of New Haven, a wooden building was located in the lot that would later become The Colony Hotel and eventually, The Study at Yale (9).   The 1901 Sanborn Map of New Haven doesn’t appear to have a separate lot for 1157 Chapel (10). The plot for 1156 Chapel has a building behind 1156 Chapel that could be 1157 Chapel. That building is composed of wood and brick and has the name, “Green No. Glass RF.” According to the 1924 Sanborn Map, 1157 Chapel was a wooden dwelling located next to the Hotel Duncan (11). 

In 1963, the Colony Hotel was built at 1157 Chapel. The Colony Hotel was in existence from 1963 through 2006.  The property was renovated from 2006-2008 until KPMB Architects of Toronto completed construction on The Study at Yale in 2008 (1).  

KPMB Architects of Toronto established the Study at Yale in 2008. The Study was built on the site of the previous tenant, the Colony Hotel. KPMB Architects of Toronto renovated The Colony Hotel, from 2006 to 2008, to create The Study. Prior to The Study, The Colony Hotel existed at 1157 Chapel from 1963 through 2006 (1).  Principal 3 purchased The Colony Hotel for $7 million in 2006 (1).

The construction of The Study at Yale was a response to New Haven’s desperate need for hotels (1). As of October 2008, New Haven has approximately 800 hotel rooms (2). The Colony Hotel only contained 86 rooms compared to the Study’s 124 rooms (1, 2, 7). Possibly in response to The Study’s opening, rival hotels rushed to expand.  As of 2008, the Courtyard by Marriott added 47 rooms to its then 160 rooms and the New Haven Hotel was in the process of renovating to add more rooms as well (1). In response to this scarcity of hotels, Yale partnered with several hotels to help ensure their success and that the filled this void (1).   According to Vice President of New Haven and State Affairs at Yale, Bruce Alexander, Yale allowed the Omni, Courtyard, and The Study use Yale’s name as a way to support local businesses (1).  Yale’s influence on The Study extends to its architecture, design, and décor, as several of its walls are painted “Yale blue,” photos in each room contain scenes of campus life, and music produced by Yale School of Music students plays over the lobby’s speakers (2). Additionally, the most expensive rooms face north towards the courtyards of Yale’s residential colleges. Similarly, the rooms that face south have stained glass reminiscent of the stained glass that famed artist G. Owen Bonawit designed for Yale (2 and 3).   

 The establishment of The Study was also part of a broader effort to revitalize the Chapel West neighborhood and New Haven in the early to mid-2000s (1). The boosters involved with revitalizing the Chapel West neighborhood envision it as one day occupying the same status as other great arts neighborhoods like New York City’s Soho, Dumbo, and Chelsea neighborhoods. A poster from luxury housing provider and property manager Pike International currently hangs at its 1142 Chapel Street location as of 2018 and compares Chapel West to these well-established arts districts (4, 5, 6).  

 Ultimately, the revitalization of New Haven’s hotels can be interpreted as an outgrowth of New Haven’s revitalization while the re-branding of the Chapel West neighborhood into an arts demonstrate the allure of the urban experience economy (2).

Located in the midst of the revitalized, eclectic Chapel West neighborhood, The Study at Yale is located on a fairly busy street with Thai Taste Restaurant, J&B Deli and Insomnia Cookies. The Yale School of Art greets the Study at Yale from across the street. Overall, the immediate area is a burgeoning arts district and feels hip and gentrified to attract professionals and Yale University students, faculty, and their families.