Ohio State University Approves Two Major Construction Projects

The Board of Trustees at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, recently approved two major construction projects on education and research facilities, according to local news. At its May 18 meeting, it approved contracts for the renovation of Campbell Hall—part of the College of Education and Human Ecology—as well as Phase 2 of the new Biomedical and Materials Engineering Complex (BMEC) for the College of Engineering.

 BMEC Phase 2 will cost $90 million and measure in at 125,000 square feet. Phase 1 of the project, the Mars G. Fontana Laboratories, was completed in August 2020 and united the Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Departments. Phase 2 of the project, nicknamed “The Gateway to Engineering,” will include amenities like STEM-focused teaching labs, a Leadership Suite for College of Engineering Leadership, and space for the materials research group from the Department of Electrical Engineering. The new facility is scheduled for completion in Sept. 2025.

Meanwhile, the Board also approved the last $49 million for the $61.2-million renovation of Campbell Hall, home to the College of Education and Human Ecology. Funding is coming from private donations, state-awarded funds, and university funds, according to a university news release. Completion is scheduled for June 2025.

“This supports the College of Education and Human Ecology’s educational goals and admissions by providing an updated space for collaborative work and a hands-on learning environment,” said Mark Conselyea, Facilities Operations and Development vice president. “The project renovates 115,000 square feet of existing offices, research and computer labs, a teaching kitchen, and classrooms.”

Local news reports that the university is also finishing construction on a number of projects scheduled to open in coming months. The five-story Pelotonia Research Center celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month. Renovations to Newton Hall, part of the College of Nursing, will debut in June. The James Outpatient Care facility—an outpatient cancer research and treatment facility—is planned to open in July. Construction on the university’s new Arts District will finish with the completion of the new Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts building scheduled to open in time for the fall. And the 66,000-square-foot Energy Advancement and Innovation Center is anticipated to open in October.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Anderson Brulé Architects Rebrands as ABA Studios

    Anderson Brulé Architects, based in San Jose, Calif., recently announced that it is celebrating 40 years of service by rebranding under a new name, according to a news release. The architectural, interior design, and planning firm will now be known as ABA Studios to refresh its identity underneath a new generation of leadership.

  • Georgia High School Debuts 500-Seat Esports Arena

    Cass High School in Bartow County, Ga., recently announced the opening of a new, 7,000-square-foot Esports Arena, according to a news release. The Bartow County School System partnered with Extron AV Technology on the project.

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • Extron, CENTEGIX Partner for Comprehensive School Security Solution

    Professional audiovisual solutions provider Extron recently announced a partnership with CENTEGIX, which provides rapid incident response technology, to integrate two of their top products in the name of school safety.

Digital Edition