September 4, 200717 yr Foundations for the massive new Farmer Hall New SEAS facility being finished up as Benton Hall gets a new entrance New cupola This entrance was cut into the existing brick; they did a fabulous job matching the masonary The old entrance will still exist, but the steps have been moved and the porch connected with the new entrance The west entrance was tastefully closed off New underground parking
September 5, 200717 yr Thanks for posting the pics Inkaelin. I was hoping you would do so once the new school year started. Please try to keep us up to date with pics of the B-School as construction progresses. I am very anxious to visit Oxford and view in person the new "massing" of buildings on lower High Street. From the renderings it appears it is being done very well and it is clearly turning into the most dynamic portion of campus, at least in regards to academic buildings. It has the flavor of a Big Ten campus from the 30s or 40s (in a good way) if that makes any sense to anyone.
October 30, 200717 yr Things are moving right along at the new Farmer Hall/School of Business: New Parking garage behind/below SEAS: Connector from SEAS to Benton: Benton could open as early as this week; notice the new portico/copula at the entrance: Just odd:
November 1, 200717 yr Ink...As always, thanks for the pics. Just curious what you found odd in the last picture. Does the portico not work in your opinion or is it just strange, in general, to see Benton reconfigured after all these years?
November 1, 200717 yr ^It looks odd not to have a pediment over the portico with the cupola. The original rendering called for it, but we ended up with the above. I think they should have done away with the cupola in the process of doing away with the pediment. By the way, they have started steel construction on Farmer Hall.
November 2, 200717 yr ^I see where you are coming from and agree that maybe the cupola should have been nixed given the revised portico. That said, I think the revised portico works better than one with a pediment. Maybe it has to do with shape of Benton itself or maybe it just works better with the new steps and porch. Looking forward to additional pics of Farmer in the future.
February 7, 200817 yr The student center site has been selected. The new building will be located at the end of Maple Street facing Spring Street, replacing Gaskill, Rowan, and Culler Halls.
February 14, 200817 yr Of course they wait until I leave to ball out with a new student center, but at least I got to go to the new ice arena...
May 6, 200817 yr I figured I better do an update before I depart Oxford... Farmer Hall construction is moving along, if you can see it through the trees To be Currently Rear The parking garage behind/beneath SEAS is finishing up The restoration of Warfield has been delayed, but windows are now installed The restoration of Presser is largely complete
June 4, 200817 yr From the Oxford Press: BZA strikes down proposal for former Wendy's site By Ryan Gauthier Those hoping to see action on Uptown Oxford's former Wendy's building will have to continue waiting. The city's Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied a variance request for the 2 S. Main St. property at a May 21 meeting, arguing it failed to satisfy five of seven decision standards required to grant the variance. Contact this reporter at (513) 523-4139, ext. 86102, or at [email protected]. http://www.oxfordpress.com/search/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/05/22/op053008wendys.html
June 4, 200817 yr That's crazy. I graduated in 2002 from Miami and have fond memories. I was back with my GF this past fall for a football game and to relive some undergrad memories and was shocked to see and hear that Wendy's had been burnt and left like that for many years. The changes to the old Burger King space was neat to see - it'd be nice to carry that same sort of development next door to the burnt down Wendy's.
July 24, 200816 yr Construction is heavy this summer in Oxford. The Lofts at Bella Place on the former Pedro's site: Facade Rendering: 26 West High Renovation: Previous appearance with siding: 25 West High/First Financial Bank demolition: 1963 structure demolished: 25 West High infill rendering: http://www.scottwebbarchitect.com/current.html
August 29, 200816 yr The Lofts at 1 W. High Street to be completed on the former Wendy's site by Miller-Valentine: http://www.redbrickoxford.com/
October 24, 200816 yr Kreger and the Student Center may be delayed, but current projects are moving right along. The North Campus/SEAS parking structure is complete Farmer School of Business New shelters were installed at some of the bus stops
March 3, 200916 yr FARMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OPENING [Also posted here with replies: http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,20112.0.html] Right beside my residence hall, preparation for the new Farmer School of Business began during my freshman year with the deconstruction of Reid Hall. For the next three years, I would walk past the site as utility tunnels, foundations, and--finally, a building were constructed. Miami University has always been known for its business programs, ranking high in many of the infamous media lists: The Farmer School of Business was ranked 6th among public institutions in BusinessWeek’s fourth annual survey of the nation’s best undergraduate business programs. Overall, the school was ranked 18th in the nation. The magazine's 2009 survey looked at approximately 500 AACSB-accredited programs in the U.S. It is the only Ohio institution in the top 25. http://www.fsb.muohio.edu/news/090226181006%20Miami%27s%20Farmer%20School%20ranks%20among%20best%20in%20nation Farmer's lowest rankings always relate to its facilities. Previously, the School was located in two halls dating from 1940 and 1950. While charming on the exterior, they require great upgrades to meet the needs of modern education. Enter the new $65 million Farmer School of Business, largely funded with a $30 million donation from Richard T. Farmer, a Cincinnati businessman. Miami selected leading revivalist architect Robert A.M. Stern for the project: The 223,000-square-foot Farmer Hall occupies a prominent site at the heart of the Miami University campus, facing historic Cook Field and adjacent to the confluence of the three main roads by which visitors arrive in the rural town of Oxford. Farmer Hall's three wings form three sides of a new quadrangle opening to the south and anchored by a stand of mature trees including a majestic sweet gum dating approximately to the university's founding in 1809. The main entrance, centered on a colonnaded porch, leads to the Farmer School's double-height Commons, with adjacent study and dining rooms. A broad skylighted stair atrium connects the below-grade classroom floor to the office floors above. The variety of instructional spaces – cluster classrooms, breakout rooms, a trading room – reflects the school's pedagogical style, which emphasizes small group work, seminar instruction, and experiential learning. A prominent separate entrance to the school's 515-seat auditorium is visible from Uptown Oxford's High Street. Farmer Hall's simple Colonial-Georgian facades of red brick, painted trim, and slate roofs carry forward the architectural identity of Miami University's historic campus. http://www.ramsa.com/project.aspx?id=201 While the finishing touches are still being completed, the building opened for students this Monday. Note that some of these photos were taken before final furnishings were installed
May 23, 201015 yr Two more projects have been announced for Uptown. Qdoba, Cold Stone close for redevelopment By Catherine Couretas Qdoba and Cold Stone Creamery have the option to return when the new building is ready in 2011. “It’s a rebirth of what uptown used to look like.” That’s how Alan Kyger, Oxford director of economic development and executive director of the Oxford Community Improvement Corporation (OCIC), described the development uptown with new, taller buildings, specifically the new project at 9 W. High St. Miami University students venturing to Qdoba Mexican Grill for a meal Monday noticed a sign on the building thanking customers for their support and noting that the property would be redeveloped. According to Mike Burke, owner of the property at 9 W. High St. since 2003, the building that houses Qdoba and Cold Stone Creamery will be torn down and new construction will begin, including ground floor retail space as well as student apartments. http://www.miamistudent.net/news/community/qdoba-cold-stone-close-for-redevelopment-1.1478237 DuBois prepares to rebuild, add apartments By Catherine Couretas DuBois Bookstore will close its uptown store while a new building, which will include student apartments, is built in its place. Thirty-six more students will have the opportunity to live in the heart of uptown beginning with the 2011-12 academic year as Dubois Bookstore rebuilds with the addition of apartments. According to owner John DuBois, he did not want to lose the uptown location and knew the market is there for premium housing. “They’ll be very nice apartments with the amenities that make it a cool hot place to live and a super location,” DuBois said. http://www.miamistudent.net/news/dubois-prepares-to-rebuild-add-apartments-1.1436094
June 3, 201015 yr Could someone please explain to me the fascination with red-brick clad buildings in recent years? I mean, seriously...it seems like every new project, from the Banks to the office buildings at Union Centre, are all red-brick boxes. Are there no architects with a sense of creativity these days?
June 3, 201015 yr When you see a plain box with brick on it, what you're looking at is the work of a developer, not an architect. Gotta remember that architects are probably the last people in the world who desire to build crap, but developers are often the first. And they hire the architects. What you probably had here were marching orders that said "Value engineer this to X dollars, but I want it to be brick." Because to developers, beauty comes from things they can list on a brochure, not form or creativity. Or just as likely, well-intended but poorly written zoning codes imposed certain requirements that are doing more harm than good.
June 3, 201015 yr it's amazing how much changed since i graduated from there in 2002...let alone how much changed from when i first started school there (when water tower was still in place...no park, etc.)
June 13, 201015 yr Thanks, Civvik. I understand. It's a shame. Whenever I see Union Centre, I want to hurl. All the office buildings there look the same. Uptown Oxford is a place of relatively unique character, even though it's not an urban area. So I'd like to think they could have at least done something a bit different.
June 14, 201015 yr Contrarily, it is also important to keep in mind that not every new building is meant to be a show-stopper. If you subscribe to the idea that the best urbanity creates an "urban fabric," then by definition most buildings should be "filler." In a suburban environment every building is arranged like a monument. But it's impossible to afford an infinite number of monuments. Those office buildings at Union Center would be perfectly acceptable as filler buildings as part of an urban fabric.
October 1, 201014 yr A few updates.... LOFTS AT BELLA PLACE Complete LOFTS AT 1 HIGH STREET Before After 25 WEST HIGH Before After 7 WEST HIGH Before Now Planned CALISTA TOWER Before Now Planned DUBOIS BOOKSTORE Before Now Planned
October 2, 201014 yr Calista Tower? Would Over-the-Rhine be a skyline by that definition? "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 2, 201014 yr Wow Oxford is making some really great upgrades. They seem to be weeding out the 70's era architecture and building older style buildings to make the business district seem more cohesive.
November 29, 201014 yr These are top notch! I noticed that like in Chicago they are using Cinder Blocks to cut cost, which make the building look more convincingly urban than putting a brick front with a vinyl sided side... (I'm thinking specifically of a ton of Infill project in Cincinnati... they really need to learn how to do them right!)
November 29, 201014 yr Yowza! I know nothing about Oxford, but these projects are great! I like the detail and the old-timey feel.
February 5, 201213 yr From the 2/4/2012 Hamilton Journal-News: Miami OKs $73M in projects New residence hall and dining hall, extensive renovations part of plan By Meagan Engle, Staff Writer OXFORD — Miami University is preparing construction projects totaling more than $73 million. The university plans to construct a new residence hall and a new dining hall, and renovate Cook Field, the equestrian center and another residence hall. The housing and dining projects are part of a 15-year plan for renovations and new construction, which includes three new residence halls on western campus. “In the fall of 2014, this campus is going to look a lot different,” said Finance Director David Creamer. http://www.journal-news.com/news/hamilton-news/miami-oks-73m-in-projects-1323415.html Drawings/renderings of the new residence hall and dining facility: http://www.cbtarchitects.com/initiatives/works-in-progress/index.php?id=235
April 23, 201213 yr More updates... 7 WEST HIGH Complete Before (from above) CALISTA TOWER Complete Before (from above) DUBOIS BOOKSTORE Complete Before (from above)
April 23, 201213 yr Construction is well underway on the first phase of the new Armstrong Student Center; the phase includes the renovation of Gaskill and Rowan Halls and a connector addition between the two buildings on a former parking lot.
April 23, 201213 yr man - it's hard to believe i graudated from there 10 years ago (time goes too fast) - but it looks like a place i've never seen before with all those changes. Kind of sad - but I do like the all the new build
November 28, 201212 yr Some new items to note... The Princess Theater has closed: http://oxfordtownie.com/2012/11/27/the-princess-theater-has-gone-dark-townies-of-oxford-save-our-princess/ According to a just opened Twitter account, Panera will be opening in Oxford in February 2013: https://twitter.com/PaneraOxford Location unknown, but I'd assume Stewart Square. Speaking of the Square, a Hampton Inn just opened there: http://www.miamistudent.net/news/community/hampton-inn-opens-in-oxford-1.2958792
October 24, 201311 yr A number of projects are wrapping up construction, so I thought it was due time for an update. Armstrong Student Center Kreger Hall - 1931 structure receiving addition and rehab for Department of Physics Maple Street Station - a new concept dining hall arranged like a strip of shops Etheridge Hall - a new dorm completing the fourth side of the MET (Morris, Emerson, Tappan) quad
October 24, 201311 yr It's nice to see the campus be updated yet still retain its personal character. Thanks for the pics. Haven't been to O-town in years.
October 24, 201311 yr Thanks for the pics Ink. Question you may or may not be able to answer. I note that they are renovating Kreger. I was not aware they had the funds for this. As I recall, Phase 2 of the Armstrong Student Center involves incorporating Culler into the complex but this could not be done until funds were found to renovate Kreger and move the departments currently in Culler into Kreger. Since the renovation of Kreger is going forward, does that mean that Phase 2 of the student center will begin shortly (or are they still seeking funding for Phase 2)?
October 24, 201311 yr ^Miami received capital funds from the state to rehab Kreger. This will vacate Culler, but I do not believe they have funds for phase 2 of the student center (incorporating Culler) at this time.
October 24, 201311 yr The new construction at Miami continues to impress. Is there anything else currently under construction, just finished, or planned for Uptown?
October 24, 201311 yr ^Uptown has slowed down after several years of new mixed-use buildings. Other than the reconstruction of the fire-damaged Fiji House, I am not aware of anything significant (although that may be because I am in town much less regularily these days).
October 25, 201311 yr What ink said. I was back home in Oxford last month. The only thing that sticks out in my mind is the BP gas station being sold and torn down. As for uptown, that's about it. Oh, just remembered. For us old-timers Hole In The Wall bar is back and the Princess theater will reopen sometime soon with upgrades from the new local owners. But this is now veering off-topic so I'll hush my mouth.
October 25, 201311 yr Very cool thread and great pictures Ink! I'm in Oxford now finishing up some stuff, so here's what is happening / has happened recently: Since the pictures posted above, the Armstrong Student Center now has landscaping and sidewalks complete in front. It is scheduled to open in January. Details posted below: http://www.forloveandhonor.org/s/916/flah-2-col.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=989 MapleStreet Station, the new dining hall posted above has seven restaurants (yes, restaurants) - a pizza place, a Jewish deli, a pastry / baked goods / coffee shop, a Smashburger style burger place, and an IHOP style all-day breakfast place (with the full-service wait staff as well). The other two concepts, a southeast Asian food place and a South American place, have been unsuccessful thus far and will likely be retooled. A floor of dorms are above, and the dining hall replaces the former Hamilton and Scott Dining Halls (which are going to be converted into sorority living rooms). What it looks like inside posted below: http://www.cbtarchitects.com/initiatives/works-in-progress/index.php?id=235 Ethridge Hall sits right next to MapleStreet Station on the newly renovated MET (now MEET) quad. Drainage problems have been fixed and new patio areas have been installed. Additionally, three new dorms are being built on Western campus, as well as a replacement for Alexander Dining Center. They are very large! And they are part of a large plan to re-do all dorms called the Miami Makeover. Links below: http://www.cbtarchitects.com/initiatives/works-in-progress/index.php?id=281 http://www.cbtarchitects.com/architecture/academic/residential-life/index.php?id=223 http://pfd.muohio.edu/projects/Housing_Master_Plan_2011.pdf Anderson and MacFarland Halls are currently being gutted. Renovation should be complete sometime in 2015. In uptown, the former BP is being converted into another larger apartment / retail building. I have not heard about any plans to re-open the Princess yet, but I have heard rumors of a KTV bar opening in town (possibly at the Princess?). Either way, I doubt the Princess will reopen without a liquor license.
October 27, 201311 yr rHaha "whole in the wall" is back. Same location? That is where I was introduced to Salsa dancing. Really impressed with Etheridge Hall.
June 21, 201410 yr A few updates from May... Armstrong Student Center - now complete and open Kreger Hall - new rear addition fronting Spring Street Western Campus Dorms - three new dorms designed with both Western College stone & Miami University brick influences Cook Field Entrance / Restrooms - inspired by the four historic gatehouses constructed at Miami Field in 1935; those gatehouses now stand at Yaeger Stadium
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