The renovations to Page Hall are all but complete.

Only three walls and some pillars are left standing of the old building located on The Oval. The renovations began in February and are expected to be finished by next fall.

The project budget is $16 million and will house the new John Glenn Institute. Public Policy and Management and the Physical Facilities Shop is also expected to be located there.

“It is scheduled to be finished by Labor day of 2004,” said Mike Burger of Danis Construction Company, the general contractor for the project.

Kevin Miller of Miller-Watson Architects is the designer for the project, and Ruth Miller is the senior programming manager for the planning and development facilities at Ohio State.

“The John Glenn Institute is an interdisciplinary institute that sponsors programs for students to engage in public service,” said Deborah Merritt, the director of the John Glenn Institute.

The John Glenn Institute offers internships in Washington for students and assists in the training of public officials. Page Hall was chosen for the new location because it looks similar to the style of buildings in Washington. Merritt said it is a historical building on The Oval.

“Page Hall is 100 years old,” she said. “The new building will be very contemporary yet also historic.”

Everything is going according to plan, Merritt said.

“It is much more costly to tear down the whole building and rebuild it,” Merritt said. “That’s why we’re keeping the walls and pillars to add on to the old building.”

Kevin Miller is the architect in charge of the project. He designed the rectangular glass prism which will look like a three-story floating box. The creation will be added to what is remaining of Page Hall.

“The project is to create a new gateway into the university,” Miller said. “Page Hall was one of the original buildings built on The Oval, and our goal is to reconnect the building back to The Oval.”

It will be a somewhat U-shaped building, he said. The goal is to redefine the whole entry into the university. Currently, the primary way to get to OSU is by car, but an entrance will be added behind the building where a large parking garage stands.

“This gateway building will bring the parking garage to The Oval.” Miller said. “Page Hall was built in 1902 and it was one of the original Oval buildings. It is a classic building.”