Ohio University’s Housing Master Plan deadline might be extended and costs might be rising, but the outcome will still be 8,000 beds.
The plan’s first phase of building 1,000 beds was set to be completed next fall but will now be delayed until Fall Semester 2015 because of changes in how OU is able to allocate its money during construction, said Christine Sheets, executive director of residential housing.
“I want to leave a legacy and have a personal goal as an administrator to connect all the dots, cross all the t’s, dot all the i’s and do the best we can,” Sheets said.
The plan’s $281 million cost also might change because the numbers reflect the project’s original construction outline from 2010, which do not reflect current market values.
The plan’s allotted construction costs, as they were in 2010, are $225 per feet, but the 2012 price is closer to $275 per feet.
“I know that (the project’s prices) are on the lower end of the cost analysis because those were based on figures provided in 2010 dollars,” Sheets said.
“The inflation of construction has gone up a considerable amount of money, and there’s been an increase per cost of total package of amenities.”
The costs will be better reflected when specific buildings’ details are defined, such as security and Internet options, she added.
sj950610@ohiou.edu
