SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- What once was a historic downtown San Jose hotel, is now transformed into college dorm rooms. On Thursday, San Jose State University celebrated the opening of Spartan Village on the Paseo.
San Jose State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson said the project was approved less than a year ago. "It is unlike anything SJSU has ever built the speed alone and the scope of its completion are unprecedented," President Teniente-Matson said. Within four months of construction, SJSU converted the south tower of the Signia by Hilton - formerly the Fairmont - into student housing.
The 13-floor (11 residential) luxury hotel tower will house 700 undergraduate students. RELATED: SJSU dorm rooms coming to historic downtown San Jose hotel up for sale The name of the suites are still on the doors. The desks, wardrobes and beds are new, but the couches and other furnishings remain from the Signia.
We spoke with residential advisor Paloma Hubbard. "The curtains for sure, they're like really nice blackout curtains. Now I get a view of the whole city, I can see the hills.
It's just a lot more peaceful," Hubbard said. And once you step inside the marble bathrooms, they scream 'this was a hotel room.' Residential advisor Aniket Sheth said the moment he opened the doors he thought the room and ensuite bathroom were spacious.
MORE: UC Berkeley unveils new 'luxury' dorm for transfer students "Having my own bathroom, I have a shower with a glass door I have a bathtub I h.