Introduction

RPI started off in 1824 with no residence halls. In 1907, the Warren House of the Warren Estate was turned into the Institute’s first dormitory. About a decade or two later came Quad, then North and E-Complex, followed by all the other halls we know and love. One of the most recent additions was Howard P Blitman residence hall, added in August 2009. The building represented the relationship between the Institute and the city of Troy and became a sophomore residence hall.

Blitman Opening

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.

Howard N. Blitman

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. 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.

Best Western Rensselaer Inn

Before 2009, Blitman Residence Hall was a Best Western hotel. It advertised hockey games at Houston Field House and the birthplace of Uncle Sam 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.