By Maddie Matos
Editor-in-chief
mrmatos@owu.edu
Ohio Wesleyan University’s construction plans are set to begin this fall semester.
In an email sent out by university president Rock Jones, the school announced that the renovation projects for residential side of campus are to begin in the upcoming weeks.
The project was previously announced in the spring, with new senior apartments for seniors and a complete renovation of Smith Hall.
“As of this writing, we’ve begun construction to renovate Smith West as part of a two-phase makeover to transform Smith Hall into a vibrant, community-oriented environment housing all of our first-year students,” Jones said.
Workers already have created a construction yard west of the building. Renovations will begin fully starting in September.
Smith parking lot will be spit, with access from West William Street to one side and from South Liberty Street to the other. Throughout construction, all students will continue to have 24/7 access to Smith Dining Hall.
Smith West is scheduled for completion in August 2020. Afterwards, renovations for Smith East will begin.
The completed building will open in fall 2021.
Jones also said when the new senior apartments will begin.
“In October, we expect to break ground for the new Village Apartments,” Jones said. “When completed in fall 2020, the first building will feature 126 beds within four-bed, six-bed, and eight-bed units that include kitchens, two full bathrooms, large living rooms with lots of natural light, and individual air-temperature controls.”
As the first apartment building are being built, workers will make a construction site on South Liberty Street. Walkways will be made for students to access Bashford Hall, Thompson Hall and Frat Hill.