Central State University Breaks Ground on Honors Dorm

On the campus of Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, officials recently broke ground on a new residence hall for students enrolled in the university’s Honors College. Construction on the $15-million facility is set to begin this month, be completed by July 2022 and open to students in time for the fall 2022 semester, according to local news.

The facility will cover 57,000 square feet of currently undeveloped space between the university’s library and the National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center. The three-story facility will feature 119 beds, as well as amenities like multipurpose space, common areas, interactive study areas, and a lounge/dining area.

The CSU Honors College opened less than a year ago and has a current enrollment of a little more than 200 students. “Valedictorians, salutatorians, merit finalists…these individuals will be those high-achieving students, and this residence hall will hold many of those students,” said Dr. Jack Thomas, CSU President.

The facility was developed by national campus housing company University Housing Solutions. “This is going to be apartment-style housing—mostly two-bedroom units, but we do have one-bedroom studios, as well,” said Meghan Schmidt, the development director for University Housing Solutions.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine attended the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Aug. 6. “It’s always great to meet students and hear what their vision is and what they want to do,” he said.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Phoenix School District Breaks Ground on New Prep Academy

    The Creighton Elementary School District near Phoenix, Ariz., recently broke ground on a campus replacement for Biltmore Preparatory Academy, according to a news release. The new space will allow the school to expand its enrollment by 50 percent for K–8 students and accommodate modern, collaborative learning styles.

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.