Introduction[edit]

At the time of RPI's founding in 1824, there were no residence halls on campus. In 1907, the Warren House of the Warren Estate was turned into the Institute’s first dormitory. About a decade or two later the residence halls Quad, North and E-Complex, followed. One of the most recent additions was the Howard P Blitman residence hall which was added in August 2009. The building represented the relationship between the Institute and the city of Troy and became a sophomore residence hall.

Best Western Rensselaer Inn[edit]

Before becoming an RPI residence hall, Blitman Residence Hall was a Best Western hotel. It advertised hockey games at Houston Field House and the birthplace of Uncle Sam Lanes as nearby attractions. It also had a pool. After it was converted into the Blitman Residence Hall, a nearby Best Western was built in Franklin Square.

Blitman Opening[edit]

On May 15, 2009, President Jackson and several other members of the Board of Trustees participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to add the newly refurbished residence hall to RPI. At the time Blitman was being added, RPI’s CLASS policy (Clustered Learning, Advocacy, and Support for Students) was being implemented-keeping students of each cohort together with a live-in resident dean, resident assistants, and other staff. Blitman was explicitly added at the bottom of the Approach, a long staircase that already symbolized RPI’s connection to the city of Troy. The vision of the residence hall also involved helping students to be involved in the Troy community and integrate with its culture. The $17 million project converted a Best Western Inn into an inviting dormitory equipped with its own dining hall and 148 double rooms.

Unveiling of Blitman Commons

Howard N. Blitman[edit]

The Blitman Residence Commons was named after Howard N. Blitman, a legacy graduate and generous donor of RPI. Howard Blitman’s grandfather, Charles Blitman, graduated from RPI in 1914, and, 40 years later, donated Commons Dining Hall, along with Bray, Cary, Crockett, and Hall Halls, all named after professors. In 1950, Howard Blitman graduated from RPI with a civil engineering Bachelor’s and went on to be an advisor, volunteer, and donor for the next 50 years. Blitman lived downtown while attending the Institute and felt that the area needed improvement. Furthermore he wanted to encourage students to enjoy all Troy has to offer by incorporating the school further into the heart of downtown Troy. In 2009, when the Best Western Rensselaer Inn was converted to a residence hall, it was named after the donor whose family had given so much to the RPI community.

Blitman Residence Commons Today[edit]

As of 2023, Blitman is a 4-floor sophomore residence hall that houses almost 300 students. The current address is 1800 6th Ave, Troy, NY 12180. The rooms are suite style with restrooms located in each unit. The amenities include air conditioning, cable tv, an elevator, laundry, printers, and a kitchenette on the second and third floors. There is also a Blitman Dining Hall located in the same building.