Ohio University’s Master Housing Plan is geared toward building new dormitories but will not supply additional housing to students.
The $281 million project, scheduled to be completed in 10 years, will accommodate 8,000 students — OU’s current dorm capacity. Christine Sheets, OU’s executive director of residential housing, visited Wednesday’s Student Senate meeting to give an update on the project.
Compared with other universities, OU has fewer suites. Ninety percent of its rooms are considered traditional, meaning they do not have an attached bathroom or a sink.
“We really need to start addressing that,” Sheets said. “We need to put a plan in motion where they’re starting to transform more. We’re behind things.”
The project will be paid for with $91 million of equity investments and $190 million in debt financing, she said.
“This is the largest construction project I’ve seen on this campus and that I know (of) in the history of the university in terms of dollars,” Sheets said.
Sheets said she is looking forward to completing this project at a time when building costs are lower.
“We’re doing everything to make sure they are the best they can be and lining up with the market,” Sheets said.
Despite the sizable price tag, senate President Kyle Triplett said the new dormitories are best for the university overall.
“Anybody who’s lived in an un-renovated building knows that they are less than ideal and very inefficient,” Triplett said. “This plan, with its big price tag, will benefit the university by offering rooms that students will want to live in.”
For concerned students in attendance, the delays and costs didn’t sit as well.
“In the past, there’s been some bumps along the road,” said Tyler Barton, a senior studying chemistry. “Is this full speed ahead, or is there a plan you’re very committed to?”
Sheets, who planned to have 90 renovated beds available by fall 2013, has already had a setback and is unsure what troubles might lay ahead, she said.
“It’s already been delayed a bit,” Sheets said. “But things are moving very well.”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
