The Graduate by Hilton
AUBURN, AL
Architecture: Raymond Hartshorne and Jim Plunkard | Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture
Graduate by Hilton Auburn, AL, is the brand’s first Alabama location, situated just steps from Auburn University. The hotel spans nearly 140,000 square feet across five floors, offering 177 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Its design pays homage to Auburn’s rich traditions, featuring interiors adorned with gingham, stripes, and floral patterns in the university’s colors, and custom elements like oak tree headboards and tiger-print pillows.
Guests can enjoy two distinctive dining options: The War Eagle Supper Club, a rooftop bar and restaurant that revives a local institution, and Bo Jackson’s Beans, a coffee shop and cocktail bar created in partnership with the Heisman Trophy winner and Auburn alumnus. Additional amenities include a fitness center, pet-friendly rooms, and valet parking.
Recognized by Southern Living as one of the South’s Best New Hotels in 2025, Graduate Auburn offers a vibrant and nostalgic experience for visitors and alumni alike.
Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture (HPA) is a Chicago-based architecture, planning, and interior design firm established in 1987. The firm specializes in large-scale, mixed-use developments, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation projects across the United States. HPA’s design philosophy emphasizes placemaking, integrating the history and unique characteristics of each site into their work. Notable projects include the Google Midwest headquarters at 1KFulton, the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, and the One Chicago residential towers. In 2018, HPA was honored with the AIA Chicago Firm of the Year Award, recognizing their commitment to innovative and contextually responsive design.
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