Donor- and grant-funded work is underway at Ohio Wesleyan University to continue improving the residential campus for OWU students. The university is transforming former office space and student housing at 4 Williams Drive to create an on-campus hub that will feature billiards, duckpin bowling, outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts, patio spaces, and pub food and beverages. Named “The 1842” in honor of Ohio Wesleyan’s founding, the hub is expected to open to students in the fall. It is being funded by anonymous lead donors and a gift from the estate of the late Richard and LaVerne Rowland of Elk Grove, California. Richard Rowland, Ph.D., was a 1951 Ohio Wesleyan graduate.
In addition to The 1842, Ohio Wesleyan also is improving its 200-acre campus by removing Bashford Hall, an outdated and vacant residential hall constructed in 1956. The university is funding the demolition with a $337,460 grant awarded by Ohio Department of Development and administered by the Delaware County Land Bank. The university plans to begin demolition in mid-May and complete the work on or before June 30. The long-planned demolition of Bashford Hall creates more green space for student relaxation and rejuvenation.
“This long-anticipated project is more than just the removal of a facility that has surpassed its useful lifespan; it’s a vital strategic investment in our future,” said President Matt vandenBerg, Ed.D. “By reclaiming this site, we clear the way for a vibrant new green space, a place where we will build community and enjoy recreation together. This project also enables us to reallocate precious resources toward our core mission and toward fulfilling our long-range plan to renew the residential corridor.”
OWU Sponsoring Organization/Office: Foundation Relations Office
Contact: Susan Zimmerman at grants@owu.edu