Although a common scene on campus has consisted of orange cones and heavy traffic, the results of the construction on the corner of 10th and Neil avenues will result in a more comfortable atmosphere on campus.
The South Campus Housing Project will result in four buildings combined in order to create more room for students.
“There was a huge demand for student housing,” said Ruth Gerstner, spokeswoman for the Office of Student Affairs. “It is really a benefit for graduate and professional students because small efficiency apartments are provided as well.”
While most campus residence halls were built in the 1960s, the developing south campus housing will provide a modern style building that offers room and board to graduate and professional students, as well as upper-class honor students and non-traditional students.
Two scholar houses, along with the Worthington and Neil buildings, will provide almost 500 beds to students.
“The Worthington Building will house 128 students, both scholar houses will house 48 students each and the Neil Building will house 270 students,” said Toni Greenslade-Smith, the associate director of student affairs.
By providing more housing for honor students, OSU is adding to its living-learning programs.
Living-learning programs offer living arrangements with students who have similar goals and give the opportunity to extend studies beyond the classroom and into daily living experiences.
Greenslade-Smith said the halls for honor students are a living-learning program in itself.
Molly Ranz Calhoun, the associate director of residence and dining halls, said students residing in the new facilities will have access to more space because the layout is different than the that of the older residence halls.
“In terms of density and square foot, the numbers are higher, simply because there are kitchens in the room,” Calhoun said. “These are apartment style residences rather than the usual layout of campus halls.”
The project, which began in February 2002, is filling up rapidly with 120 students already calling the complex home.
“Right now, there are a quite a few medical and law students. The rest are slowly coming in. By Sept. 21, which is the official move in date, we should have a lot more students,” Calhoun said.
The south halls are set up differently in terms of payment as well.
“A housing contract is set up by student affairs that is not part of tuition,” Calhoun said. “The construction fees are paid for by the student. The money is then put right back into the building.”
