The Shepherd Hotel

Located in downtown Clemson, SC, The Shepherd Hotel is the dream of Rick Hayduk, a luxury hotel leader who has long aspired to own a hotel and employ individuals with disabilities as service providers. Hayduk’s vision was inspired by his daughter who has Down Syndrome. In 2011, Clemson University Head Football Coach Dabo Sweeney introduced Hayduk to Rich Davies, a third-generation real estate developer and Clemson alumnus. Through the partnership of Hayduk and Davies, The Shepherd Hotel was born.

With the building located just eight inches from the property line and a 0.25-acre jobisite footprint that had no room for laydown and equipment, the use of precast concrete meant product could be delivered as needed to the jobsite. Metromont’s Greenville team produced 41,056 SF of core walls and architectural precast cladding with 21,000 SF of cast-in thin brick and medium sandblast finish for the seven-story boutique hotel and mixed-use building. The Shepherd Hotel features 67 guest rooms, a high-end lobby, terrace bar and rooftop event space, and restaurant.

Completed in September 2022, The Shepherd Hotel provides part-time employment opportunities for students and graduates of The ClemsonLIFE program. Designed for students with special needs, The ClemsonLIFE Program offers a two-year Basic Program and two-year Advanced Program in a public university setting. Students in the Basic Program learn functional academics, independent living, employment, social skills, and health/wellness skills. The Advanced Program focuses on students who demonstrated an ability to live independently, sustain employment, and socially integrate during the Basic Program. For additional information, visit ClemsonLIFE.