When spring arrives in University Circle, one perennial resident will be notably absent: The large white tent that has occupied the side yard of the Glidden House, 1901 Ford Drive, for more than 15 years during the fairer months. The canvas structure, however, will not likely be missed.

In its place will be a welcome upscale addition. The 3,200-square-foot Juniper Room will seat up to 150 guests for weddings, meetings and conferences. Currently under construction, the new space will feature stone and brick on its exterior in order to complement the stately and historic Glidden mansion, which was built in 1910. The hotel was added in 1989.

"It will blend in with the hotel," says Tom Farinacci, general manager at the Glidden House. "As you're walking through the hotel and you walk into that room, it will feel like it's been there forever."

The Juniper Room will have a hard wood floor and seven sets of French doors that will open to a manicured lawn embellished with flowers and the mansion's original gazebo, lending garden-style charm to the new venue.

While planning for the addition started in April 2014, construction began last November. Town Center Construction is the contractor on the project. LDA Architects did the design, which was rather painlessly approved by both University Circle Inc. and the City of Cleveland after a few comments and changes.

"I think we were kind of on the right track from the beginning," says Farinacci. "Nothing really derailed us at all."

Combined with the mild weather, those approvals have the project on track for the scheduled April opening. Farinacci notes that they've already booked 25 weddings for 2016.

"We've really gotten a great response and it's not even built yet," he says, noting that clients made the reservations for their big day based solely on the architectural renderings. "We're pretty confident we'll do 40 to 50 weddings a year."

Just how long had the white tent been a part of the University Circle landmark? Farinacci isn't sure.

"I've been here 15 years and it's been here since well before I got here," he says. "We'd put it up in April and tear it down at end of October or beginning of November."

Financial details for the privately funded project are confidential. The Glidden House is owned by the Glidden House Associates, a private group of citizens that managing partner Joe Shafran convened when he was unable to get a bank loan for the hotel addition in the late 1980s.

"They all told him that a hotel in University Circle wouldn't work," says Farinacci. "He went out and raised the money himself."

Obviously, the success, reputation and longevity of the venerable locale have proven those bankers wrong. The hotel has 52 traditional rooms and there are eight suites in the mansion. Marigold Catering handles all events at the Glidden House. Room service, however, is provided by Jonathan Sawyer's Trentina, which is housed in the mansion's original carriage house.

Farinacci notes that the majority of the brides and grooms – as many as 90 percent – that choose to have their receptions at the Glidden House also have their ceremonies on the lawn.

"It's just really pretty out there," he says.

For information about booking an event in the Juniper Room, contact Carrie Cooney, director of catering and events at 216-658-9108.