Kent State University giving equal weight to design and money in choice of business college developer (photos, video)

Updated Apr 17, 4:31 PM; Posted Apr 17, 4:20 PM

By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

 

KENT, Ohio - The competition to design and build a new, $72.9 million College of Business Administration building for Kent State University has come down to four finalist teams that include some of the world's leading architecture firms.

 

All of the competitors have proposed buildings with distinctive shapes and facades, plus central, sky-lighted atriums, grand staircases, and digital panels displaying stock prices.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2018/04/kent_state_university_to_give.html#incart_river_index

Dedication set for KSU’s May 4 site as National Historic Landmark

Posted Apr 30, 2018 at 10:19 AM Updated Apr 30, 2018 at 10:27 AM

 

Kent State University will formally recognize the May 4 site on campus as a National Historic Landmark during a dedication ceremony Friday.

 

The site represents the location of the historic events of May 4, 1970, where the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four students and wounded nine others.

 

http://www.record-courier.com/news/20180430/dedication-set-for-ksus-may-4-site-as-national-historic-landmark

Haven't see this posted before. Under construction now.

 

Living/Learning Community hosts groundbreaking

Posted Dec 12, 2017 at 8:09 AM Updated Dec 12, 2017 at 9:55 AM

 

The Presbyterian Church of Kent recently was the site of a groundbreaking ceremony. Kent city officials, Kent State University representatives, and members and friends of the congregation gathered at 1456 E. Summit St., to celebrate commencement of a planned Student Housing community on the church grounds, which have been surrounded by KSU and Greek Village in recent years.

 

The planned structure is a five-story complex with 384 beds arranged in suites for 384 residents with lower level parking, and an outdoor study courtyard. Other amenities include a business center, exercise facilities, club room, and outdoor pool. A separate space for church ministry is located within the building as well. The building will be sited on the west side of church property.

 

http://www.record-courier.com/news/20171212/livinglearning-community-hosts-groundbreaking

 

 

Yikes...

http://www.theprestonpartnership.com/project/the-residences-1456-e-summit-st/

Wow, I was going to skip over reading about that project. But I thought as a former KSU student I should at least check it out. Glad I did.

 

Five stories with 384 beds and amenities is a big development!

I drive by this every day and it is really a tight fit on the site.  I've been anxiously awaiting a rendering, and now I must say it's very disappointing.  More bland and cheap-looking than I would've imagined.  Not that student housing is a very high bar, but other recent complexes in Kent are much better than this.

I drive by this every day and it is really a tight fit on the site.  I've been anxiously awaiting a rendering, and now I must say it's very disappointing.  More bland and cheap-looking than I would've imagined.  Not that student housing is a very high bar, but other recent complexes in Kent are much better than this.

Yes, easily the worst project in a decade in Kent. And that includes the Alumni Center.

I don't think it's that bad for the low-density environment where it's being built.

Kent State University trustees approve $44.9 million Design Innovation Hub, dining facility

Updated Jun 6, 8:10 PM; Posted Jun 6, 5:19 PM

 

 

By Emily Bamforth, cleveland.com

 

ebamforthCleveland[/member].com

 

KENT, Ohio -- Kent State University trustees on Wednesday approved a $44.9 million project to overhaul the former School of Art building into a "Design Innovation Hub" and dining hall.

 

The 24-hour building will include 3D printers, workspaces where students can collaborate on projects, as well a dining hall to seat 350 people.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/06/kent_state_trustees_approve_ne.html

Six-story building gets OK in Kent

 

By Diane Smith Reporter

Posted Sep 4, 2018 at 5:45 PM

 

A six-story apartment building in downtown Kent, which was called "ghastly" last month by members of the city's architectural review board, got the panel's approval Tuesday.

 

 

http://www.record-courier.com/news/20180904/six-story-building-gets-ok-in-kent?template=ampart

 

Six-story building gets OK in Kent

 

By Diane Smith Reporter

Posted Sep 4, 2018 at 5:45 PM

 

A six-story apartment building in downtown Kent, which was called "ghastly" last month by members of the city's architectural review board, got the panel's approval Tuesday.

 

 

http://www.record-courier.com/news/20180904/six-story-building-gets-ok-in-kent?template=ampart

 

 

And if there were commuter trains to Akron (or Cleveland) on the Akron Metro RTA tracks across the street, one might actually consider this Transit Oriented Development!

The old BW's location. Spent some time in there.

Didn't the same architect try to use dark brick on the new project in Ohio City which ended up being changed?

The old BW's location. Spent some time in there.

 

BW3 was before my time in Kent. Besides there wasn't much south of Erie Street in the 1980s anyway, except an old commercial district.

 

Didn't the same architect try to use dark brick on the new project in Ohio City which ended up being changed?

 

Yes.

The old BW's location. Spent some time in there.

 

BW3 was before my time in Kent. Besides there wasn't much south of Erie Street in the 1980s anyway, except an old commercial district.

 

Useless fact, the guys who started BW3's met at Kent State. But it was not where the first location was opened. That was OSU.

Ah, I couldn't tell without a strategically placed colon or dash. And I say that because my father was a strict English teacher before he became a real estate broker. :)

Akron's Signet Real Estate Group to lead $3.2 million design phase for Kent State's College of Business Administration

Updated Sep 14; Posted Sep 14

By Jennifer Conn, Akron reporter, cleveland.com

 

AKRON, Ohio - Akron-based Signet Real Estate Group has been hired to lead the design phase for Kent State University's College of Business Administration, which is the centerpiece of the school's $1.2 billion Gateway Plan.

 

The $3.2 million design phase of the business building, planned to anchor Kent's front campus, will include the main gateway to Kent State, green space and a new parking deck. The work will begin immediately and be completed by next summer, the university reported in a news release.

 

https://www.cleveland.com/akron/index.ssf/2018/09/akrons_signet_real_estate_grou.html#incart_river_index

September 23, 2018 04:00 AM

Old mill's towering silos present development challenge in Kent

JUDY STRINGER

 

When Mike Mistur and Ryan Brannon opened their artisan coffee shop on North Water Street in 2011, the Bent Tree Coffee Roasters partners took Sundays off, because business "was so slow in Kent" on weekends, according to Mistur.

 

Flash forward seven years — and $150 million in downtown redevelopment — and Kent is a very different place.

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/old-mills-towering-silos-present-development-challenge-kent

Barrio to open location in downtown Kent this summer

Jorden Shevel

Apr 16, 2019 Updated 17 hrs ago

 

Barrio is bringing its signature tacos, tequila and whiskey to downtown Kent this summer.

The Northeast Ohio taco joint will move into the building at 295 S. Water Street that previously housed The Newdle Bar. In a press release, Barrio said they will fit well into the Kent business community because of their similar values such as community, family, friends and supporting local art.

 

http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_3111e65e-607d-11e9-b1b5-374d1cb83dfa.html

Kent State selling 270 acres, including golf course

 

By BOB GAETJENS Reporter

Posted May 26, 2019 at 12:01 AM

As part of its recent master plan, Kent State University is selling a little more than 270 acres of property worth about $6.3 million, including a large portion of the former KSU Golf Course at the corner of Power Mill Road and Route 59.

Connie Hawke, associate vice president for compliance, risk management and real estate for the university, said KSU identified the properties it wants to sell during its facilities master planning process.

 

https://www.record-courier.com/news/20190526/kent-state-selling-270-acres-including-golf-course

On 5/28/2019 at 10:00 PM, Terdolph said:

Am I the only one that thinks spending $1.2 billion for new buildings is a lot of money for a school of this size? 

That is more $$ than the endowments of probably 90% of the universities in this country.

 

Is it a real number?

 

Need to see what the numbers are that total to that $1.2 billion. The business school is $72 million. The parking deck is $23 million and is not using any state funding. So you have $100 million right there.

New Hawthorn Suites hotel proposed in Kent

 

A former industrial site used originally as a hotel or tenement for canal workers in Kent may soon come “full circle,” according to Mike Sichenzia, project manager for Nypano Co. LLC.

 

https://www.record-courier.com/news/20190701/new-hawthorn-suites-hotel-proposed-in-kent

 

 

Star of the West Mill bought by local developers

 

One of Kent’s most distinctive properties — the old Star of the West Mill — was sold on June 26, according to the Portage County Auditor’s property records. 

The .83-acre property, which includes the towering grain silos that help define Kent’s skyline, sold to The Tulips LLC for $405,000 last week. 

 

https://www.record-courier.com/news/20190703/star-of-west-mill-bought-by-local-developers

 

November 03, 2019 04:00 AM

Davey Tree to nearly double size of its Kent headquarters

Dan Shingler

The Davey Tree Expert Co. is giving the city of Kent a birthday present — a big expansion that will nearly double the size of the company's headquarters in town, plus plans for a training facility across the street.

And it's not even the city's birthday, it's Davey's — the residential and commercial tree service business is celebrating its 40th year as an employee-owned company this year.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/energy-and-environment/davey-tree-nearly-double-size-its-kent-headquarters?ite=104338&ito=1153&itq=d15ed067-cea7-4f30-968e-22952cfe2b9a&itx[idio]=7065580

I'm confused. I thought Davey's HQ was downtown??

Davey's old headquarters were downtown (somwhere on south Water north of 59), until they moved to their new corporate campus some time in the mid-1980s. They were growing beyond what downtown Kent Office space could accommodate at the time. The new building was for the corporate offices, but also an R&D center (the Davey Institute). Its located just north of the High School on the cities northern border. You can't really see much from the street as it kind of in a forest set back from rt-43.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1711939,-81.3529398,3a,75y,248.53h,86.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTGE1vyv0b8_-_fIbkBCoUA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

 

In 2012, they moved the Davey Resource Group into Fairmount Porpertie's "College Town Kent "Phase 1 Development. The Davey Resource Group is only one division of Davey Tree which works on GIS an software development. They moved from office space in neighboring Stow to the third floor of the Water Building at 295 South Water Street. Some corporate employees relocated from the HQ building but that was because of a lack of available space. Just under 100 people work at this location. The renaming office space in the Fairmount development in downtown Kent are taken by local manufacturers Smithers-Oasis and Ametek. 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/295+S+Water+St,+Kent,+OH+44240/@41.1519214,-81.3581523,3a,75y,92.96h,99.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srYxVosXQrPiBRKgw1V9LeQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x883125216012b145:0x41c6463ba8cbb0a1!8m2!3d41.1519374!4d-81.3578875?hl=en

 

Davey is a big, with some 11,000 plus employees, making it one of the 10 largest employee owned companies in the US. It never had that large of a corporate office though, only employing a couple hundred people. I would prefer if this office space was in downtown Kent, but there isn't much space available for development and they already have made a commitment to area. There is however great demand for office space downtown and if some developer can make it work, the space would fill quickly. 

 

Existing Corporate Building

 

New Wing

Edited November 4, 20195 yr by NorthShore647

Davey Tree planning future growth

https://www.record-courier.com/news/20191103/davey-tree-planning-future-growth

 

“Our hope is to break ground on the third wing in the middle of next year with about 18 months of construction,” he said. Plans have not yet been submitted to Franklin Township. The new wing, which would extend west toward Hudson Drive, is estimated to cost $15 million and would provide 40,000 square feet in additional space for employees, according to Covey."

 

 

Once the third wing is constructed, Davey intents to turn towards improving the former golf course across the street it acquired in 2017. It'll be primary or research, development and education and serve as the new location for the Davey Institute, freeing up space in the headquarters. The plan they shared with he public is preliminary, but shows space for primarily research and preservation. Although there are plans for some public facing amenities, it seems like most of the property will be closed off. That's a bit of a shame because it is a really nice piece of land, especially along the Cuyahoga. This is however one of the best uses for a former gulf course I have seen yet. 

 

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1741145,-81.345477,1442m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

 

 

Edited November 4, 20195 yr by NorthShore647

Park Place. Kent State’s First Parking Deck to Improve Access, Allow for Campus Transformation

The new Main Street parking deck will be located off of Midway Drive between Williamson House, Nixson Hall and the Center for the Performing Arts. The new $29 million facility will offer mostly covered parking spaces that have been sought by faculty and students, including commuter students, whose classes are typically scheduled along that area of campus.

Larry Emling, manager of parking services who has worked at Kent State for 21 years, said he has frequently been asked by students, “When are you going to build a parking deck?”

He now has the answer.

https://www.kent.edu/kent/news/park-place-kent-states-first-parking-deck-improve-access-allow-campus-transformation

 

uhhhh.....?

^Yeah, the comments about parking is some BS, but to be fair the parking garage will allow for the removal of 3 parking lots and a new building for the business school.

23 hours ago, yanni_gogolak said:

Park Place. Kent State’s First Parking Deck to Improve Access, Allow for Campus Transformation

The new Main Street parking deck will be located off of Midway Drive between Williamson House, Nixson Hall and the Center for the Performing Arts. The new $29 million facility will offer mostly covered parking spaces that have been sought by faculty and students, including commuter students, whose classes are typically scheduled along that area of campus.

Larry Emling, manager of parking services who has worked at Kent State for 21 years, said he has frequently been asked by students, “When are you going to build a parking deck?”

He now has the answer.

https://www.kent.edu/kent/news/park-place-kent-states-first-parking-deck-improve-access-allow-campus-transformation

 

uhhhh.....?

I believe this is one of three planned parking decks to be built in the 10-year master plan. 

29 million dollars for a parking deck?! Is it made of diamonds and gold?!

7 minutes ago, Silent Matt said:

29 million dollars for a parking deck?! Is it made of diamonds and gold?!

 

That's how much they cost. Constructing a parking garage costs upwards of $30,000 per parking space. That's also the average cost of a new car today.

 

BTW, I don't have a problem with how much they cost to build. I have a problem with how much we charge (ie, don't charge) people to park in them. They're often underpriced (and often free), providing a huge subsidy to driving, worsening our car dependency.

Edited December 6, 20195 yr by KJP

On 12/5/2019 at 3:46 PM, andrew0816 said:

^Yeah, the comments about parking is some BS, but to be fair the parking garage will allow for the removal of 3 parking lots and a new building for the business school.

 

My comment was more around the utilitarian design of it. But I guess it will compliment that new business school nicely.

Davey Tree acquires Amy Greene Environmental

Crain's Akron Business - Dec. 11, 2019

 

"Kent's Davey Tree Expert Co. announced Wednesday, Dec. 11, that its subsidiary Davey Resource Group has acquired Amy S. Greene Environmental Consultants of New Jersey. ... The company has made more than 40 acquisitions since it became employee-owned in 1979, with the pace accelerating in recent years, CEO Pat Covey told Crain's in November. The company attracts would-be sellers with more than cash, he said. Davey, one of the largest employee-owned companies in the nation, uses its employee ownership and growth as a lure as well, because it offers employees of the acquired company a chance to become owners themselves."

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/akron-news/davey-tree-acquires-amy-greene-environmental

Kent development tide turns toward North Water Street

JUDY STRINGER

Don Schjeldahl has been selecting sites for businesses of all types for 35 years, and he is pretty confident by now that he can spot a winner.

Downtown Kent development over the past 15 years has been primarily in the city's southern half from Main Street down, Schjeldahl noted. But today, he said, the tide is turning northward, specifically toward the roughly seven-block span of North Water Street.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/kent-development-tide-turns-toward-north-water-street?utm_source=akron-morning-roundup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20200210&utm_content=article2-image

This on slid by me. It's well under construction now.

 

Design Innovation Hub coming to center campus

Samantha Farland

Mar 6, 2019

The $44.9 million Design Innovation Hub construction will begin in April on the old Art Building.

As part of Phase 1 of the 10-year Master Plan, the facility will open in August of 2020.

The Design Innovation Hub will include a new dining hall on the third floor from Aramark — who donated money to the project — as well as retail dining on the second floor. This dining facility will replace Kent Market 2 located on the second floor of the Student Center.

 

http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_429ff728-4050-11e9-bda5-97b570661535.html

 

https://www.bcj.com/projects/kent-state-university-design-innovation-hub-di-hub

Construction delayed til spring 2021

 

https://www.record-courier.com/news/20200519/seventy-new-jobs-coming-to-davey-tree

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

Design Innovation Hub at Kent State is coming along nicely. Very cool building.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

The old BW3 has finally been torn down.

This is what’s left of the BW3. They planted some grass. So I guess we’re just gonna have a field here.

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

Design and Innovation Hub at Kent State update.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 20214 yr by Silent Matt

Downtown Kent (Fri. 8-7-20)

The following is from a bike ride I took through Kent last week. The photos primarily focus on recently completed, or under construction projects throughout the city.

 

North Water Brewing Co.

 

From the Portage Hike and Bike trail

Related Article: https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/04/north-water-brewing-co-eyes-opening-in-kent.htm

Location: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1587328,-81.3581058,3a,90y,339.35h,87.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTJfC1E_Kk0DAHR-ZqL3vFg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

 

Renovated L.N. Gross Building built in 1928

 

 

 

 

Related Article: https://www.record-courier.com/news/20180113/ln-gross-building-becomes-showcase

Location: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1562372,-81.3600382,3a,75y,51.22h,87.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sERgP_vNgAWdiKM8FCEOCvw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

 

New AxessPointe Community Health Centers building just south of the L.N. Gross building on Gougler Avenue.

 

Renovated Kent Courthouse (originally post office) built in 1935

 

Courthouse rear from Franklin Avenue

Related Article: https://www.record-courier.com/news/20181217/local-lawyer-restores-historical-quality-of-old-kent-courthouse

Location: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1523772,-81.3582056,3a,75y,285.58h,85.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sz7s_E2L9LRtOsLIlqkevaQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en

 

View in front of the former Post Office/Courthouse 

 

The southeast corner of Erie Street and Franklin Avenue 

 

A streetview from 2013 of the now demolished buildings. Most recently home to the B-Dubs (now located in the renovated Kent Hotel), Ramella's Pizzeria and Mugs Brew Pub:

 

The former B-Dubs building was torn down for a 6 story tall apartment building developed by Fairmount Properties. The site was however purchased early this year by Clairmont Development. No new updated plans have been submitted to the city since. More info about the project via the Record Courier: https://www.record-courier.com/news/20200110/new-owner-new-plans-for-apartment-at-old-bw3-site

 

The planned mixed use building on the Erie/Franklin corner

Related Article: https://www.record-courier.com/news/20180220/kent-planners-approve-downtown-building

 

Former Kent Police Station and future City Hall Location at the southeast corner of Water Street and Haymaker Parkway:

 

 

 

New Kent City Hall Renderings

 

 

 

New Kent Police Station one block east on Haymaker Parkway

 

345 Flats apartment building at Depeyster and Summit Streets (the former City Hall location)

 

Looking north up Depeyster Street

 

 

 

Southwest corner of Depeyster and Erie

Kent State University (Fri. 8-7-20)

Looking across Haymaker Parkway towards the KSU esplanade and the Kent State Center for Architecture and Environmental Design

 

Downtown from the Esplanade 

 

 

Future "Interdisciplinary Studios / Innovation Zone / Retail" parcel outlined by KSU in the Kent Campus Gateway Master Plan Phase 1. Not much more info on the site.

 

Kent Branch of the Portage County Municipal Court (relocated from the recently renovated former post office building) 

 

The  Kent State Center for Architecture and Environmental Design

 

 

 

KSU Center for Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement at Lincoln and Franklin Streets

 

 

 

 

The Province Apartment Complex on Lincoln Street

 

 

 

New single-family housing on Lincoln 

 

 

KSU Design and Innovation Hub

 

 

 

Summit Street Streetscape Improvement Project

 

 

KSU Integrated Sciences Building 

 

 

 

 

KSU Aeronautics & Engineering Building

 

 

Latitude apartment building built on the Presbyterian Church of Kent's land

 

 

New single-story commercial building on East Main across from the future College of Business Administration building.

 

R.I.P. MACtion 2020

Great pictures! I really like Downtown Kent and all the progress it has had recently. I hope they find a way to connect it to the campus better though. The campus still feels very suburban to me, which I guess some people might like, but it's one of the reasons I chose not to go to Kent.

Great pictures. Brings back so many awesome memories of the 1980s. For example, I used to walk down South Lincoln to my condo in the distance at right. There was a large greenhouse on the left and a horse pasture on the right. When walking home from class, I would sometimes pet the horses and feed them some hay that fell beyond their fence while listening to my Walkman.

 

Edited August 13, 20204 yr by KJP
Actually included the photo!

Fun fact:
When i took a tour of Kent state when I went to look at their architecture program, as i was avidly looking into, the entire building is powered by geothermal.

Wow, so many changes. I wonder if there's anything left that I would recognize on or off campus. They must be doing really well for all of this construction to be happening, which is great.

^I went to visit Kent during Christmas break. Other than Main St and The street along the river, the rest of it was completely changed for the better! It looked great!

Another Kent grad here! (If only I’d met @KJPback in his partying days!) I’ve been back a few times over the last few years and couldn’t believe all the changes when I first saw them. As far as it being a “suburban” campus - nobody goes to Kent for an urban feeling - but I always loved the campus and the small town “charm” of Kent itself.  It’s taken on a more upscale look over the years.  Lotta changes on campus with some cool buildings. 

Edited August 16, 20204 yr by CleveFan

Can't believe I'm just now coming into this thread for the first time. I'm a KSU alum as well, and holy crap, everything seems so different! I went there from 2006-2010 and even continued living there in downtown Kent until 2013. In just 7 years, everything seems so different. I really need to go back there and check out all the changes.

 

Edit: Where is that KSU Design and Innovation Hub located? Did that replace Van Deusen Hall?

Edited August 18, 20204 yr by Zyrokai

^That's the old Art building (where I kicked off my graphic design career)! ?

Kent sure wouldn't be where it is today without Burbick. If only every city in Ohio could have someone as committed and visionary as him. 

 

Kent loses generous leader, visionary in Ron Burbick

Bob Gaetjens - Sep. 8, 2020

 

"A key civic leader in the restoration of downtown Kent and other Portage County endeavors died Sunday. Ronald Lee Burbick, 75, passed away at his home. Burbick provided one of three spokes of funding necessary to unlock state and federal redevelopment dollars that help lead to new construction downtown, said Howard Boyle, chief executive officer of Hometown Bank."

https://www.record-courier.com/story/business/2020/09/08/ron-burbick-major-contributor-kents-new-downtown-has-died/5749580002/

Very big loss for Kent.