Ohio Wesleyan University continues to build its bold, bright future by installing solar canopies in six campus parking lots.
Work is scheduled to begin Sept. 21 and continue through January to add 5,565 parking lot canopy panels to the 4,845 ground panels already in place. As the 15-foot-tall canopies are installed, affected parking lots will be closed and reopened in stages – sometimes affecting half at a time and sometimes affecting the outer perimeter and then the center, depending on lot configuration.
Solar Canopy Installation Schedule
Parking lots scheduled to receive solar canopies and the expected work dates (weather permitting) are as follows:
- Schimmel/Conrades Science Center – minimal parking lot closure on the evening of Sept. 19 (watch for the tall orange cones); canopy installation from Sept. 21 to Oct. 22. Limited parking will be available during installation; alternate parking locations include the Phillips, Selby, and Meek lots.
- Bradford Milligan Hall – minimal lot closure on the evening of Sept. 25; canopy installation from Sept. 29 to Oct. 30. Limited parking will be available during installation; alternate parking locations include the Jay Martin Soccer Complex and Meek lots.
- Smith Hall – minimal lot closure on the evening of Sept. 28 (watch for the tall orange cones); canopy installation from Oct. 7 to Dec. 14. Limited parking will be available during installation; alternate parking locations include the Jay Martin Soccer Complex and Meek lots.
- Meek Aquatics and Recreation Center – minimal lot closure on the evening of Oct. 20 (watch for the tall orange cones); canopy installation from Oct. 26 to Dec. 23. Limited parking will be available during installation; alternate parking locations include Selby Stadium.
- Jay Martin Soccer Complex – minimal lot closure on the evening of Nov. 3 (watch for the tall orange cones); canopy installation from Nov. 6 to Dec. 8. Work to begin after completion of the regular fall soccer season. Limited parking will be available during installation; alternate parking locations include the Selby and Meek lots.
- Selby Stadium – minimal lot closure on the evening of Nov. 25 (watch for the tall orange cones); canopy installation from Nov. 27 to Jan. 28, 2027. Work to begin after completion of the final fall games at the stadium. Limited parking will be available during installation; alternate parking locations include the Meek lot.
New OWU Parking Alerts
Parking will be challenging during portions of the canopy installation, but the payoff is substantial: When the system starts producing power in fall 2027, it is expected to generate 8.2 million kilowatt-hours of clean, solar energy each year. This is the most ambitious solar energy initiative in Ohio higher education.
To help keep you informed of parking disruptions, Ohio Wesleyan will provide nonemergency OWU Parking Alerts during the installation period. These messages, via email and text, will serve as reminders of what’s coming up to help you plan your parking and your schedule. We will also add temporary signage outside each lot with a QR code that points to owu.edu/solarparking for more details.
When Ohio Wesleyan begins using clean energy next year, an online dashboard will display in real time how much of the university is being powered by solar. The initiative also will create hands-on learning opportunities for students in renewable energy, sustainability, engineering, and advanced technology. Learn more about the overall, groundbreaking initiative at owu.edu/solar.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Source: Public Safety & Facilities
Contact: psafety@owu.edu