Diggin' the Western Campus dorms.

^Same. I'm really glad they didn't go with the traditional red brick and respected the architecture of the Western campus

^The only problem now is that Havighurst is traditional Miami red brick and is stuck in the middle of Western. Perhaps they could reclad some of it in stone when it is renovated.

^The only problem now is that Havighurst is traditional Miami red brick and is stuck in the middle of Western. Perhaps they could reclad some of it in stone when it is renovated.

When Havighurst was built in the early '80's, the Western Campus folks were NOT pleased that it would look like a 'traditional' Miami building. They wanted a stone facade and not the Miami red brick. And not to split hairs, but Havighurst is on the edge of Western closest to the main campus.

 

It's good to know the new buildings will be in line with the Western appearance.

^The three new dorms were built between Havighurst and Bachelor, so Havighurst is no longer on the edge of Western.

^The only problem now is that Havighurst is traditional Miami red brick and is stuck in the middle of Western. Perhaps they could reclad some of it in stone when it is renovated.

When Havighurst was built in the early '80's, the Western Campus folks were NOT pleased that it would look like a 'traditional' Miami building. They wanted a stone facade and not the Miami red brick. And not to split hairs, but Havighurst is on the edge of Western closest to the main campus.

 

It's good to know the new buildings will be in line with the Western appearance.

 

I could imagine. Being a current Miami student who occasionally walks past Havinghurst Hall (with the construction date on the sign out front), it was built almost immediately after Western College was acquired by Miami University, in 1976 if I remember correctly (I am 100% certain it was completed in the 1970s).

 

To me, Havinghurst's construction almost seems like a dog marking its territory. A horrendous move on the university's part. When they first announced the construction of the new dorms on Western, I was very worried this was going to happen again. But thank goodness it did not! There is a weird red brick section on one of the new dorms near Havinghurst, I'm assuming it's there to tie Havinghurst into Western better.

^The only problem now is that Havighurst is traditional Miami red brick and is stuck in the middle of Western. Perhaps they could reclad some of it in stone when it is renovated.

When Havighurst was built in the early '80's, the Western Campus folks were NOT pleased that it would look like a 'traditional' Miami building. They wanted a stone facade and not the Miami red brick. And not to split hairs, but Havighurst is on the edge of Western closest to the main campus.

 

It's good to know the new buildings will be in line with the Western appearance.

 

I could imagine. Being a current Miami student who occasionally walks past Havinghurst Hall (with the construction date on the sign out front), it was built almost immediately after Western College was acquired by Miami University, in 1976 if I remember correctly (I am 100% certain it was completed in the 1970s).

 

To me, Havinghurst's construction almost seems like a dog marking its territory. A horrendous move on the university's part. When they first announced the construction of the new dorms on Western, I was very worried this was going to happen again. But thank goodness it did not! There is a weird red brick section on one of the new dorms near Havinghurst, I'm assuming it's there to tie Havinghurst into Western better.

FWIW. Miami acquired Western in 1974. Havighurst's construction was completed in 1983, and opened that same year.

A few updates from October...

 

Western Campus Dorms and Dining Hall - complete

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kreger Hall Rear Addition - complete

 

 

 

 

Symmes Hall - rehab and dining hall addition underway

 

 

 

Shideler Hall - auditorium demolished to make way for new front addition

 

 

Glad to see they are starting to use traditional lampposts again (at least on Central quad...I note the Western pics have the modern lighting).

 

Thanks for the update

What's the significance with the (boarded up) windows?

 

^I am not sure why bricked in windows were part of the design. Those corners are stair towers, so I think windows could have been incorporated.

^I am not sure why bricked in windows were part of the design. Those corners are stair towers, so I think windows could have been incorporated.

 

I've been noticing that architectural trend recently. I guess it's to give the illusion that it's an older building that had been renovated/reconfigured over the years...

Bricked in windows in new buildings isn't something new. Buildings from hundreds of years ago used that exact same method as a balancing technique when an actual window didn't make sense. So it's not a new idea.

 

That being said, I think it's stupid. Granted I also think everything Miami is building is stupid since it's 2014, but that's neither here nor there.

Bummer news in Oxford. A new sprawling apartment complex has been approved South of town on US 27.

 

Historical Oxford, known as the "mile square," has traditionally been where students live once they move off campus. It has a tight, urban street grid. However, suburbanization affected this small college town just as much as it affected larger cities. Large apartment complexes were built outside of town. You can't walk to them - they operate shuttle busses to and from campus. On US 27 particularly, a steep hill separates the apartment complexes from campus.

 

When I was at Miami from 2006-2010, we started to see an urban renaissance, as mixed use high rises were built along High Street in Uptown Oxford (seen upthread) and also along Spring and Church Sts, and the sprawling complexes fell out of fashion. Now they are building a new one, reversing the positive trend of the past few years. I weep for my alma mater.  :cry:

 

The last thing Oxford needs is a new development

By Kyle Hayden, Design Editor

 

Recently, Trinitas Ventures LLC, a developer from Lafayette, IN, pushed a proposal for a 192-unit, 668-bed development on Southpointe Parkway (right across the street from Level 27) through the Planning Commission to City Council.

 

More: http://miamistudent.net/?p=17011954

Sometimes these smaller cities don't have the willpower or knowledge needed to write good zoning that will prevent developers with $$$ from bulldozing them.

I am not sure what happened here, but it does appear there was push back from the city:

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/oxford-settles-lawsuit-over-housing-development/nngdN/

Looking through this makes me all the more sad that the area around University of Cincinnati wasn't redeveloped better - a ton of these would fit in better in Cincy than the crap they got stuck with.

Yes, if you look at the comments from the article above from the Miami Student, there is a comment from a member of the planning commission who described what happened. They got backed into a corner... I pasted the final paragraph of the comment below.

 

I just hope this project doesn't completely mess up the rental market in that town. 668 beds is a lot. Something like 3-4% of the total undergrads at Miami. On the bright side, maybe it will drive rents down and encourage other landlords to update their properties.

 

The problem rests in the fact that the Planning Commission and the City Council should never have changed the zoning of the district in question to R2A, thus giving a developer the opportunity to use the land as Trinitas has done. The language in the code for that zone is vague enough that the judge threw out any argument of its interpretation as the Planning Commission had argued. No one on the Planning Commission wanted to see this project go forward; but voting against at this point would not have stopped it. It would only have given us a worse development than what we will get with the stipulations we approved when we approved the project on a narrow but positive vote. I did not come to my decision easily, nor did others on the Planning Commission who voted for it--or against it.

Bob Benson,

Member of the Oxford Planning Commission

Part of the issue is the sheer number of new students accepting their admission offers for Miami University.

 

On-campus, they need to build a new 300-room dorm just to keep up with demand. At the moment, many "on-campus" students are living about a mile away from campus in an apartment community similar to the one that will be built.

 

Additionally, the value proposition for those units way out there is bad. Virtually all students like to walk to class and walk uptown to the restaurants and bars. They like to live by their friends. The current complex out there is the cheapest campus living option, but also decidedly the lest desirable. These won't be any more highly looked upon.

 

Kinda surprised they are doing this, actually...

Article from Miami's student newspaper about the Amtrak station coming to Oxford:

Thank you KJP for AAO's part in this!

 

Amtrak station to come to Oxford

By Leah Shaw, For The Miami Student

 

It’s 3 in the morning and Oxford residents are awoken by the horn of the Amtrak train making its way through town. Soon enough, students will be able to hop on board this train.

 

Within the next few years, Oxford plans to have its own Amtrak station for students and residents to take from Oxford to Chicago and beyond. The city of Oxford received approval last week from Amtrak to submit the proposal to build a stop here.

 

In November 2014, Oxford city officials met about creating an Amtrak in Oxford for students to use when traveling to other cities.

 

In December 2014, The Miami Student reported that Southwest Regional Director of All Aboard Ohio, an organization that promotes rail travel, had a two-part effort — getting an Oxford stop on the existing Cardinal line that goes through Oxford, and then having Amtrak expand its existing Hoosier State line to include Oxford and other Southwestern Ohio stops that would provide more service here with better times.

 

More: http://miamistudent.net/?p=17012994

Get a sneak peek inside Miami University's new $25M Athletic Performance Center

 

 

Miami University is preparing to unveil its $25 million Athletic Performance Center near Yager Stadium’s north end zone, which includes space for sports medicine and rehabilitation provided by Mercy Health. The project is the most recent in a building boom at Greater Cincinnati universities.

 

A ribbon cutting will be held Feb. 1 in Oxford and the center will open Feb. 2 for the exclusive use of Miami students, but the Business Courier got an early look at the 56,400-square-foot complex. Click on the images below to take a peek inside.

 

More below:

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/01/27/get-a-sneak-peek-inside-miami-universitys-new-25m.html

Rich Miami students selling drugs to other rich Miami students:

 

http://www.wcpo.com/news/crime/4-miami-university-students-arrested-after-6-month-drug-trafficking-investigation

Miami University plans nearly $1M upgrade project

 

Miami University is seeking architects and engineers for a renovation and construction project that will cost nearly $900,000.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/11/08/miami-university-plans-nearly-1m-upgrade-project.html

Miami University plans gateway enhancement project

 

 

Miami University plans to enhance key gateways into its campus in an effort to increase accessibility in two of its most busy areas.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2017/11/14/greater-cincinnatiuniversity-plans-gateway.html

Miami University eyes $125M in new buildings

 

 

Miami University is looking to transform its campus with the addition of two new facilities that will require a total investment of about $125 million.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/02/11/exclusive-miami-university-eyes-125m-in-new.html

Miami being Miami:

 

^Paul Ryan's frat

They were suspended for a long time in the 00s as well...

1 hour ago, Htsguy said:

^Paul Ryan's frat

 

I bet he was whispering to commit violations in their ears like Joe Biden

15 years for a suspension is ridiculous though... 4-5 years should be the max for any of these suspensions.

That's how long it takes for the former members to graduate and leave. It also gives the frat enough time to purge bad leadership and get new, good leadership.

 

 

 

The thing that's really sad about frat hazing culture is that it's true that going through hell with a group of people helps to forge bonds. But that could be used for something productive instead of just drinking copious amounts of alcohol - why not bring in a drill sergeant and get the kids into the best shapes of their lives? Or make them like, build something? Clean the toilets and re-do the nasty-a$$ carpeting? It'd have the same effect.

3 hours ago, SWOH said:

15 years for a suspension is ridiculous though...

 

They'll all inherit their dad's company by then.  I'm sure they'll be fine. 

^True lol.

 

@mu2010 I’d have to agree. Having been in a fraternity during my undergrad at Miami, the one I was in did similar to what you said. We moved into a house that was formerly occupied by another fraternity and it was disgusting. So there was no hazing but a ton of cleaning, painting, fixing, etc. There was a strict no-hazing culture. It would be a lot more productive to do exactly what you said and put the kids through grueling work instead of grueling alcoholism.

 

18 students from suspended frat are charged with misdemeanor assault:

https://www.wcpo.com/news/education/higher-education/miami-u-news/18-members-of-suspended-miami-fraternity-charged-with-hazing-assault

Miami University plans $27M renovation for dorm, dining hall

 

Miami University is looking for a design-builder to renovate a residence hall, dining hall and related infrastructure and landscape on its Oxford campus.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/12/20/exclusive-miami-university-plans-27m-renovation.html

 

Greater Cincinnati university to build $4M indoor equestrian center 

 

 

Miami University is seeking a design-builder for a $3.8 million proposal to design and construct an indoor horse-riding arena at its Oxford campus.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/01/24/greater-cincinnati-university-to-build-4m-indoor.html

^That seems pretty frivolous. I imagine they are trying to focus on their demographics of polo wearing and polo playing students. 

My Little Pony 

Just as they announce they're laying off 40 staff members.

How does residence/dining hall look now? Is it too 2013 inside?

14 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

How does residence/dining hall look now? Is it too 2013 inside?

The two dining halls I utilized while at Miami in the mid 1980's were both screaming something out of the 1950's . 

I also see from the Bizjournals pic that Swing Hall where I lived 1985/86 to 1986/87 is sadly no longer there.  Its crazy how many buildings I knew while attending school there have disappeared already.

Wasn't sure; some schools remodel everything all the time 

36 minutes ago, TheCOV said:

The two dining halls I utilized while at Miami in the mid 1980's were both screaming something out of the 1950's . 

 

The grade school I went to never changed anything.  The desks in the 1912 section were from 1912.  The desks in the 1930s section were from the 1930s.  All of them had 50+ year-old graffiti carved into them.  They wised up in the 1960s and covered the desks in the 1960s expansion in such thick coats of polyurethane that they couldn't be defaced with compass needles.  7th grade sucked for desk graffiti.  

 

In 1987 a lawnmower shot a rock into Mrs. Hirth's room and took out a chunk of the chalkboard.  The missing chunk was about the size of a golf ball, but irregularly shaped.  She had to write around the missing piece.  My brother confirmed that this was still the case 10 years later.  

On 1/24/2020 at 6:10 PM, TheCOV said:

Its crazy how many buildings I knew while attending school there have disappeared already.

Compared to most Universities Miami hasn't demolished hardly anything. Swing Hall had caught on fire the year before and was in bad shape, Withrow Hall was no longer used as the health/athletics center and was partially salvaged for the new resident hall with the same name. Other than those two buildings all of North Quad, East Quad, Central Quad and South Quad resident halls have all been renovated and saved. Western campus has changed a lot, and Wilson Hall was also demolished, though it was an old sanitarium that pre-dated Miami University but as a person who works on college campuses Miami has held on to it's historic stock better than most.

8 minutes ago, ucgrady said:

Compared to most Universities Miami hasn't demolished hardly anything. Swing Hall had caught on fire the year before and was in bad shape, Withrow Hall was no longer used as the health/athletics center and was partially salvaged for the new resident hall with the same name. Other than those two buildings all of North Quad, East Quad, Central Quad and South Quad resident halls have all been renovated and saved. Western campus has changed a lot, and Wilson Hall was also demolished, though it was an old sanitarium that pre-dated Miami University but as a person who works on college campuses Miami has held on to it's historic stock better than most.

Agree with much of you post.  However, Wilson Hall didn't pre date Miami (if it did it would have been built in the early 1820 and it was not).  It just was not an original Miami building as you stated but a sanitarium.  It was called The Pines when I attended and was a women's residence hall.  I lived next door in Dennison freshman year and dated a couple of girls living there.  It had a lot of charm.  I was sad to hear they were tearing it down.  In addition to Swing and Withrow, since I attended Reid Hall was demoed for the new business school and Talawanda on the corner of Talawanda and High is gone (originally an apartment building where Woody Hayes once lived and then a women's residence hall with Tuffys in the basement.  I am hoping the new STEM building goes where Swing use to be.  Makes sense and I wish they would finally develop that parking lot where Talawanda was.  The big demo controversy when I was on campus was tearing down the "haunted" Fisher Hall (now the site of the conference center).  Students were allowed one last peek (rather than breaking in like often happen) and I have a picture of students in a huge line waiting to get in.  Worried about Ox College.  Hope it is still in good shape.

^Ox College is now leased by the community as the Oxford Community Arts Center.

On 1/24/2020 at 5:41 PM, LAW 21 said:

Just as they announce they're laying off 40 staff members.

Ya this was posted online the same day the Equestrian Center article was. 

 

 

Miami University to lay off 40 staff members this summer

Denise Callahan - Jan. 24, 2020

Link: https://www.journal-news.com/news/miami-university-lay-off-staff-members-this-summer/1lH1vv9EF7FmfeunTpxflK/

 

“These are difficult decisions that are very hard to deliver. Unfortunately, they are necessary to fortify the financial health and advancement of Miami,” Crawford wrote. “We must also continue to ensure student affordability through increased investments in scholarships and new academic programs that are aligned with the interests of tomorrow’s students. To remain a nationally recognized university, we must continue to evolve and seek ways to further strengthen Miami.”

 

 

Edited January 28, 20205 yr by NorthShore647

Again, unrelated to the Equestrian Center, but saw this article posted last week while googling about it. 

 

 

Miami University enrolls fewest low-income students of Ohio public colleges

Jackie Borchardt - Jan. 22, 2020

Link: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/01/22/miami-university-enrolls-fewest-low-income-students-ohio-public-colleges/4534174002/

 

"From 2015 to 2017, on average, 10.9% of Miami freshmen received a Pell Grant, the report said. The state average was 29.4%. Miami's rate was the second-lowest among all public universities, following the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, the report said."

Edited January 28, 20205 yr by NorthShore647

I mean, it is J. Crew U...

I remember as a high school student passing through the Oxford area adjacent to Miami University on a school bus in transit to a sporting event in Indiana observing the area  and environment  surrounding the campus. This place had a weird vibe to it.   It was beautiful in built form but the overall vibe of the environment seemed to be artificial and plastic.  To me at age 17 it had the vibe of a 55 age and plus sterile gated community.    My first impression of the place seemed that of an upper middle class soulless dull place. It had the vibe of a golf course country club where one had to conform to certain social cues if order not to be frowned upon and shunned.  I knew this place would be a bad fit for me.

Edited February 4, 20205 yr by Coseau