Wilberforce, OH — Central State University, Ohio’s 1890 Land-Grant University, will build its first apartment-style residence hall to give students more on-campus housing options.
The 250-bed facility will be located behind McPherson Stadium and will create an anchor and public face on the east part of the campus. It will be the largest single residential facility to date. The most recent dorms added were the Harry Johns Living Learning Center and Fox Hall, both built in 2011.
“Our campus is growing and we are glad to make this investment for our students so that students can have different living options that keep them connected to the campus and other campus amenities,” said Curtis Pettis, Vice President for Administration and Finance & CFO.
Currently 1,221 CSU students, or 70 percent of enrolled students, live in University housing. The University is leasing apartment-style spaces off campus for 30 juniors and seniors.
The planned health & wellness center will include two classrooms that can be used as additional academic space for the University’s new Exercise Science major and will include rooms for exercise classes. A Health café, where food and beverages will be sold, will be located there.
Jahan Culbreath, Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Athletics, said the new Wellness Center “empowers the CSU family and community to focus on health, wellness, and fitness, while providing hands-on space for the Exercise Science program.”
The new complex will be built by University Housing Solutions (UHS), which specializes in developing living/learning communities on university campuses. According to UHS, the Ohio-based company has planned, designed and built more than 2,500 beds within the past six years. UHS was the contractor that built the Harry Johns Living Learning Center and Fox Hall.
Cost of the project is $24M. UHS will own the residence hall and lease it back to the University.
This is the second announcement of new construction on campus. In November, the University
announced it would advance its agricultural research and outreach initiatives through the creation of two new facilities designed to grow produce and provide research opportunities for students, faculty and the community.
A new Botanical and Community Garden will include a raised-bed facility where Central State faculty, staff, students and the community can grow fruits and vegetables. In addition, University officials announced the establishment of the CSU Demonstration and Agricultural Experiment Station, which will include an aquaponics facility, and other agricultural research and demonstration buildings. The experiment station will be located on 40 acres the University owns just east of the main entrance to campus.
About Central State University:
Central State University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, is a regionally accredited 1890 Land-Grant University with a 131-year tradition of preparing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research and service. The University, which has been named 2017 HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest, fosters academic excellence within a nurturing environment and provides a strong liberal arts foundation and STEM-Ag curriculum leading to professional careers and advanced studies globally. For more details, visit www.centralstate.edu
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