COLUMBUS, OH A new 40,000-square-foot residence hall will open on the campus of The Ohio State University at Newark. Designed by DesignGroup's Columbus, Ohio, office, the $12.9 million, four-story building will house 120 students in time for the autumn 2017 semester. The campus is shared with Central Ohio Technical College.

More than 10 years in the making, this project will provide much needed housing and support the future growth of the campus. Named the William T. and Jane C. McConnell Residence Hall, the building was planned and sited to allow for a second phase/wing to be easily added in the future, which would more than double the housing stock on campus. It was also designed to capitalize on the campus' existing assets, including the mature natural surroundings. This residence hall offers best-in-class design standards that reflect those established in the North Residential District Transformation on Ohio State's Columbus campus.

Ohio State first engaged DesignGroup in 2015 to execute a planning study to determine the best fit, location and style for a new residential structure, one that would set the standard for residential life at Ohio State Newark. DesignGroup worked with Ohio State to develop an organizational outline for the project, which incorporates larger gathering and collaboration spaces such as kitchens, lounges, offices, meeting space, an outdoor patio and an event space that will hold more than 300 people.

"DesignGroup has been delighted to design this flexible, scalable housing facility for Ohio State Newark," said Michael Bongiorno, Director and Designer at DesignGroup. "As a team with extensive experience in the design of higher education housing, we at DesignGroup believe that students thrive in exceptional and responsive environments."