A Remarkable New Future
As we plan for the exciting revitalization of the Salem Academy building, we know there will be many questions about the upcoming changes. We will use this webpage to keep you fully informed about this project.
Please bookmark this page so you can stay informed on the progress of the project.
New Beginnings For An Old Friend
For nearly 100 years, Salem Academy was located at 500 E. Salem Avenue. Built in 1930, the Academy Building was home to Salem Academy and its students for most of the 20th and 21st centuries. The building offered a place for them to learn, live, and build life-long friendships. Salem faculty offered a wide range of rigorous college-preparatory courses, and lively extracurriculars took place in the auditorium, lounges, and more.
The Salem Academy building was constructed in phases during the mid-20th century. The original core is the Mary Patterson Building, which served as the main entrance, and the residential halls named for Emma Bahnson and Caroline Shaffner. The Weaver addition to the Bahnson Wing (1956) houses the dining room and kitchen, and the Hodges section (1971) includes a 280-seat auditorium. The most modern space in the building is the Critz Wing (1971), which offered new academic spaces for the Academy.
In 2020, Salem Academy made the difficult decision to relocate the Academy’s residential and academic program to the heart of the Salem campus. Since that time, the building has been vacant, awaiting an opportunity to be brought back to life.
Task Force
In 2023, a task force of Salem Academy alumnae and parents, current and former trustees, and Salem staff was charged with finding a future use for the building at 500 E. Salem Avenue. This task force consulted widely with local and regional business leaders, real estate developers, academic institutions, and more to explore various possibilities for the building’s future use. This work was supported in part by a grant from the Twin City Development Foundation, given our focus on community benefit and economic development.
The task force was given the following parameters for its work:
- The building must remain under Salem’s ownership and control.
- Its future use must align with Salem’s strategic priorities.
- The future use must mutually benefit the Salem and Winston-Salem communities, along with other partners.
During this period of exploration and study, we learned a tremendous amount about the building. We studied its architecture and history, mapped the building’s spaces with 3D imaging software, and came to an understanding of what it would take to bring the building back to life. Estimates from our architects found that to re-open the building for Salem’s exclusive use would likely cost between $16-24M, an amount far beyond what Salem could afford or finance alone. It was the conclusion of everyone on the task force, Salem leadership, and the Board that it is essential that we find a partner to help bring the building back to life, while honoring its history and value to our community.
A New Beginning
After a year of exploration, planning, and due diligence, the Academy Building Task Force recommended to the Board of Trustees a plan for the building’s redevelopment. On June 20, 2024, the Salem Academy and College Board of Trustees approved moving forward with the redevelopment of the former Academy Building as a development project for the institution to become a revenue-generating asset for Salem as a historic boutique hotel and conference center. This means Salem plans to develop the Academy Building to preserve and repurpose it to generate revenue that will benefit Salem Academy and College while also keeping the Academy Building very much a part of our beloved campus community.
Salem will partner with a real estate developer that has expertise in historic property restoration.
They, along with our Salem team, will reimagine the Academy Building as a vibrant hub for tourism and events, including a new restaurant and bar, 86 hotel rooms, conference and meeting spaces, and more. The hotel will be operated under the flag of a national hotel chain (to be selected) so we can utilize their national marketing, web presence, reservations system, and rewards program. It will provide an opportunity for our alumnae, Salem friends, prospective students, and families to sleep under the roof of this beloved building once again.
Salem looks forward to restoring, renovating, and reopening the building to showcase its almost 100-year history of educating girls in the space. This hotel will introduce other visitors to Salem Academy’s remarkable history, legacy, and current prominence as a premier school for girls. The profit generated from this venture, of which Salem will be the majority partner, will support scholarships for Academy students and programming that will benefit all students.
Academy Hotel Project FAQs
Timeline
Q. Why were the Academy students moved out of the building?
In early 2020, it became clear that, due to deferred maintenance and lower enrollment, the Academy building was no longer financially sustainable. The pre-pandemic plan was to house the Academy students on the original part of campus starting in the fall of 2020. When the Covid pandemic began, and the students were sent home in March, Salem began to plan for the Academy students to return to their new home, Babcock Hall, which was renovated to accommodate high school students.
Q. How long will the project take? When will the hotel open?
The construction phase will take 18-24 months, and it will begin when the project is fully financed. While we do not have an exact date for the hotel opening, we hope it will be 2028.
Q. Where are we currently in the Academy Hotel project?
As of November 2025, we are pursuing two tracks in the hotel development project. Salem is raising money to support the project, and we are taking the appropriate steps to finalize the legal structure and partnerships necessary to ensure that the building renovation and hotel management are successful.
Representation
Q. Who is representing Salem in the hotel project?
Salem has an internal team, led by its board and staffed by Salem’s advancement and finance professionals, that is guiding the project. Salem has contracted with the Hardy Group out of Atlanta, Georgia to assist represent it as its Owners Representative in this phase of the project.
Q. Who will be the architect for the building?
With the guidance of the Hardy Group, and after a competitive RFP process, we have selected Rowhouse Architects to do the initial conceptual drawings for the hotel. This is often referred to as the Phase 1 architectural work. Rowhouse Architects is based out of Asheville, North Carolina and has expertise with hospitality projects that utilize historic tax credits.
Q. Who is the developer?
Salem will finalize an agreement with a developer after conceptual drawings are completed. We expect a decision about the developer to be made in 2026.
Q. Which hotel chain will manage the hotel?
Negotiations with hotel chains are ongoing. A hotel chain has not yet been selected. The selection of the hotel chain will take place once conceptual drawings are complete and a developer has been finalized.
Q. Who will be in charge of the hotel once it’s completed?
The hotel will be overseen by an LLC and managed by the hotel management company selected as the flag for the hotel project.
Funding
Q. How much money has already been raised?
As of November 2025, just less than $1 million has been raised for the hotel project.
Q. How much money needs to be raised?
Salem intends to raise between $2 million and $2.5 million for the project.
Q. Are you approaching corporations? Foundations? Civic leaders? College alumnae?
Salem is fundraising for the Academy Hotel Project by approaching alumnae of both the Academy and College, although Academy alumnae are naturally more familiar with the building and its potential. We have also spoken with civic and corporate leaders who have a connection to Salem Academy, and we are applying for foundation grants.
Q. What are the naming opportunities?
There are naming opportunities for a variety of spaces, including individual hotel rooms, conference/meeting rooms, auditorium and foyer, bar/lounge, and other areas. There will also be an “honor roll” of donors displayed in the building.
Q. I’d like to donate money toward this project. Whom should I contact?
Contact Salem Academy Office of Institutional Advancement, 336-721-2607
Q. How much money is the developer putting in?
The developer under the oversight of the LLC is responsible for arranging construction financing. We expect that financing will include an infusion of some equity on the part of the developer as well as construction loans.
Q. How much money will be required to transform the building into a hotel?
Initial estimates indicate that total development costs will be between 25 and 30 million dollars.
Q. How much debt will the institution incur?
Salem will not incur debt for the hotel project. Debt will be incurred by the joint partnership (LLC) which will oversee the development and operations of the hotel.
Design and Operations
Q. Will the exterior of the building be altered?
We do not anticipate major alterations to the exterior of the building.
Q. How many rooms will there be?
The preliminary estimate is that there will be 86 rooms. It will take about 2 dorm rooms to create a hotel room with an en suite bathroom.
Q. Will the tag room still be there? What about the formal reception rooms?
We will work with the architects to determine the best ways to preserve some of the defining features of the Academy building, including the tag room. One suggestion has been to have the tag room be the registration area, and signage can explain the significance of “turning your tag.”
Q. What will happen in Critz Wing, the classroom building?
We anticipate that at least two floors of Critz will house the conference center meeting rooms. We will work with the architect to determine best use of the spaces.
Q. Will the building provide a history of Salem Academy?
There will be displays in the building and/or a room in the building dedicated to explaining the history of Salem Academy and promoting the school to hotel guests.
Q. Will the revenue from the Hotel benefit the Academy only?
First priority will be Academy student scholarships. If we generate more revenue than is needed for Academy scholarships, other institutional projects that benefit students (including Academy students) will be considered.
Q. Will students be able to get part-time jobs and internships at the hotel?
The plan is for students to be able to get part-time employment and internships, especially if they are interested in hospitality management.
Q. How will security issues be addressed? Will hotel guests freely roam the campus?
The hotel will have its own safety and security plan/personnel. The Salem campus has always been open to the public, although many of the buildings on campus require a keycard for access.