July 16, 2002 == FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The new Prince Conference Center at Calvin College is out to change the way
people think about staying on a college campus say Kim Stanton, sales manager,
and Justin Jackson, hotel manager.
Both Stanton and Jackson worked previously for the Haworth Center in Holland.
Now they're getting ready for the opening in October of Calvin's new facility
which will feature not only numerous conference, meeting and dining areas, but
also 66 hotel-style, air-conditioned guest rooms and three spacious suites.
Room amenities will include king or queen sized beds, cable TV, high-speed
internet acess, free local calls and complimentary deluxe continental breakfast,
plus access to other perks such as an on-site fitness center and the Prince
Center Library which will be stocked with a variety of books and magazines.
In addition the setting for the Prince Conference Center will offer its guests
both the excitement of a college campus and the tranquility of a retreat. The
Center is a short walk from the main Calvin campus, via the new Calvin's
Crossing which traverses the East Beltline. There guests can take in concerts,
sporting events, lectures and more. And just a mile away is 28th Street,
complete with its malls, restaurants, theaters and more. But the Center is also
tucked in right by the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve, a 90-acre setting that
includes woods, wetlands and a series of trails through the Preserve. In fact
much of the Conference Center overlooks the Preserve.
Stanton thinks the new facility will become a popular spot for conferences,
sales meetings, social celebrations and more.
"I think we have the best of both worlds," she says. "We're on a college
campus, with all that has to offer, but we have a hotel-style facility. And the
location is close to everything: downtown, 28th Street, the airport. Plus the
(Ecosystem) Preserve is just a gem. We can't wait to start hosting people."
The Prince Conference Center is actually two buildings connected by an atrium.
One building holds meeting spaces, including a room with seating for up to 400
people, several others for 80-100 people and also smaller rooms for groups from
20-50. The other building is the lodging facility with 69 guest rooms.
Calvin will hold a dedication service for the Prince Conference Center and the
DeVos Communcation Center on October 25-26. The two new buildings are being
funded by the two largest gifts in the history of Calvin College. Both the
Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation and the Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation
committed $10 million to the projects for a total of $20 million.
"The DeVos and Prince families are long-time supporters of Christian
education," said Calvin College president Dr. Gaylen Byker at the time of the
gift (July 1998). "Their support of these two new ventures means a great deal to
all of us at Calvin. We are very grateful."
Elsa Prince is a 1954 Calvin graduate. Richard DeVos is a 1947 Calvin alum and
winner of the school's 1982 Distinguished Alumni Award. His wife Helen is a 1947
Calvin graduate.
Contact Kim Stanton at 526-7200. See www.princecc.com
-end-
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