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

  • Fayetteville State University Opens New Residence Hall

    Fayetteville State University (FSU) in Fayetteville, N.C., recently completed construction on a new $50-million residence hall, according to a news release. The university partnered with KWK/Jenkins • Peer Architects on the design of Bronco Pride Hall.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • Texas K–12 District to Build New Elementary, High Schools

    The High Island Independent School District on the Bolivar Peninsula in Southeast Texas recently announced that construction on a new elementary school and a new high school will begin in January 2026, according to local news. Funding will come from a $27.9-million bond passed in May 2025.

  • Embry-Riddle Breaks Ground on New Office Building

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced that construction has begun on a new office building for its campus Research Park, according to a news release. The university partnered with Hoar Construction on the 34,740-square-foot Center for Aerospace Technology II (CAT II), which will be used for research and lab purposes.

Digital Edition