Central State Introduces Next Generation of Campus Living with $24M Residential/Academic/Wellness Center

Students were introduced to the next generation of campus living- a complex where students can live, focus on exercise and wellness, and take classes. The apartment-like facility, which will be the first of its kind on campus, offers new choices for students starting August, 2019.

Curtis Pettis, Vice President for Administration and CFO, said this “groundbreaking is yet another step in the continued renaissance of Central State.”

CSU President Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond said, “I just want you’ll to celebrate. This is a wonderful day of new beginnings.” She said we are here “to celebrate something grand that we offer to our students. We are a university of innovation. We are a university focused on moving forward. We are a university focused on being progressive.”

About 80 people, including students, alumni, city officials and faculty and staff, attended the April 27 ceremony. Kristin Johnson, president of the Student Government Association, asked all the students to stand during the ceremony. “We are about to…do something exciting for this University,” she said.

The complex is being built by University Housing Solutions, a Columbus-based student housing development company. A long-time business collaborator with the University, UHS built the Harry G. Johns Living Learning Center and John R. Fox Hall in 2011. In addition, last fall UHS donated in-kind services close to $1M to help revitalize Williamson Hall, another residence hall on campus.

James Schmidt, president of UHS, said the company is excited to be able to partner with Central State again and to be a part of this new residential project. UHS will own the facility and lease it back to the University. The 250-bed facility will feature studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments, along with a state-of-the-art health and wellness center, a health café and an outdoor activity space.

Mark Hatcher, Esq., chair of the Central State University Board of Trustees, said, he was excited to be in attendance because “Central State is entering into an era of prosperity and you all will be a part of that.”

 About Central State University:

Central State University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, is a regionally accredited 1890 Land-Grant University with a 131-year tradition of preparing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research and service. The University, which has been named 2017 HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest, fosters academic excellence within a nurturing environment and provides a strong liberal arts foundation and STEM-Ag curriculum leading to professional careers and advanced studies globally.

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