Penn Club of New York facts for kids
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| Nickname | Penn Club |
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| Formation | 1900 (incorporated) |
| Type | 501(c)7 not-for-profit, private social club |
| Headquarters | 30 West 44th Street, New York City, U.S. |
| Services | Dues-based: Library, business center, fitness center, yoga studio, Yale Club Squash Court reciprocity Charge account-based: Meeting rooms, fine dining, casual restaurant, bar, hotel, spa, massage, events |
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Membership
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5,000+ globally |
| Affiliations | Princeton Club of New York Columbia University Club of New York MIT |
| Award(s) | Platinum Club of America (consecutively) |
The Penn Club of New York, often called the Penn Club, is a private social club. It is located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The club's building has 14 stories and is a special landmark. It is found at 30 West 44th Street.
The Penn Club was recognized as one of the Top 50 City Clubs for 2023-2024. It was also ranked as the second-best city club in New York City by Platinum Clubs of America.
Contents
Club History and Growth
In November 1886, a group of former students from the University of Pennsylvania met in New York. This was the first time Penn alumni formed a local group outside of Philadelphia. In January 1900, at their yearly dinner, they decided to find a comfortable place in the city for their club.
Early Homes of the Penn Club
On October 6, 1900, the Penn Club of New York opened its doors. It started with four rooms on the ground floor of the Royalton Hotel. This hotel was very close to where the club is today. Soon, it had over 150 members. In 1901, the club officially received its charter from the New York Legislature.
In 1905, the club moved to the Hotel Stanley on West 47th Street. It stayed there until 1910. From 1911 to 1922, during World War I, the club did not have a permanent clubhouse. Instead, they focused on their annual dinner.
In 1922, after a long search, the club rented two large houses on East 50th Street. These were next to what is now the New York Palace Hotel. The Penn Club was very active and successful in the 1920s. Its dining and guest rooms were often full. Many people attended its dinners and events. However, during the Great Depression in 1935, the club had to leave these houses.
After that, the club shared space with other clubs. It moved to the Cornell Club, then to two other clubs. Finally, it settled in the Phi Gamma Delta Club on West 56th Street. It stayed there until 1961. Then, it moved to the Biltmore Hotel. The club remained at the Biltmore Hotel until 1981, when the hotel was changed into an office building.
The Current Home: 30 West 44th Street
The Penn Club's current home is at 30 West 44th Street. This building was first built for the Yale Club of New York City and opened on May 1, 1901. The Yale Club used the building until 1915. After that, other groups used the building. These included the Delta Kappa Epsilon club, the Army and Navy Club, and parts of the federal government of the United States.
In 1989, the University of Pennsylvania bought the building for $15 million. They raised another $25 million from alumni to renovate it. The building was expanded to 14 stories. In 1994, the Penn Club of New York moved into its new, owned building on West 44th Street. This street is between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue.
The building at 30 West 44th Street was special. It was the first university clubhouse in New York City designed as a tall building. Other clubhouses before it were shorter. The building was designed in the Beaux-Arts style. It has beautiful decorations made of brick, Indiana limestone, and architectural terracotta.
Club Amenities and Services
The Penn Club offers many services and facilities to its members. These are divided into two main types: those included with membership dues and those that cost extra.
Amenities Included with Dues
All members who pay their yearly dues can use the 14-story clubhouse.
- The Benjamin Franklin Room is named after the university's founder. It has a private library open 24/7 where members can borrow books. It also has a piano, a fireplace, and paintings of past Penn leaders.
- The business center offers spaces for working.
- The Palestra Fitness Center and yoga studio are on the 13th floor. They offer city views.
- The Penn Club also has a website and app for members. These help members connect with each other.
Services with Extra Charges
Other services are charged to a member's account.
- Members can rent meeting rooms for events.
- There are bars on the event room floors.
- The club has two restaurants. One is a two-story fine dining room. It has a dancing area and a balcony for musicians. The other is a themed Grill Room. It has a mahogany bar and a sushi chef. Both restaurants can be rented for events.
Hotel Rooms for Guests
Members and their guests can also rent 39 guestrooms. These rooms are on five different floors. Each room has a theme related to the achievements of different Penn alumni.
Connecting with Other Clubs
The Penn Club is located on "Clubhouse Row." This street has several other famous clubs. These include the Harvard Club of New York City, the New York Yacht Club, the Yale Club of New York City, and the Cornell Club of New York.
The Penn Club has agreements with many other private clubs around the world. This means Penn Club members can use facilities at over 150 other clubs. For example, members can use the squash courts at the Yale Club. This allows members to connect with people from many different backgrounds.
The Penn Club's location was chosen because it is close to Manhattan's Theater District and Grand Central Terminal. It is also near other alumni clubhouses.
Membership Information
To become a member of the Penn Club, people need to apply. They also pay an initial fee and yearly dues. Membership is mainly for alumni, faculty, and students of the University of Pennsylvania who are old enough to drink.
Some other schools also have special access for their alumni as affiliate members. These include Princeton University, Columbia University, and MIT. This means the building houses members from three of the eight Ivies. Other colleges with affiliate access include University of Chicago, Vanderbilt University, Emory University, New York University, Williams College, Villanova University, and Fordham University.
The Princeton Club of New York closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its members and some staff were then welcomed into the Penn Club. The club also offers "legacy membership" to spouses, adult children, and adult grandchildren of Penn-affiliated members. They have the same financial requirements.
The Penn Club has over 5,000 members worldwide. The members control the club, and it is managed by professional staff. The University of Pennsylvania owns the clubhouse building. It leases the building to the club, which is a non-profit organization.
Notable Members
- Donald Trump (Wharton 1968)—a former U.S. President and a graduate of the Wharton School at Penn.
See also
- Princeton Club of New York
- Columbia University Club of New York
- List of American gentlemen's clubs
