When the Ohio Union (now Enarson Hall) first opened its doors in 1909, it became the first student union on a public campus. In 1950, a new union was opened at 1730 North High Street and was heralded as the premier student union on any college campus. The Ohio State University will rise to eminence once again with the opening of the much anticipated, new Ohio Union in spring 2010. The 320,000 sq. feet facility will provide students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members with unique meeting and event spaces, tempting dining locations to please anyone’s palate, and programs that will help inspire tomorrow’s leaders.
While small meeting room spaces are readily available throughout campus, the new Ohio Union will house several larger spaces, capable of accommodating events up to 1,700 people. At 18,000 sq. feet, the Ohio Union Ballrooms are the second largest ballrooms in central Ohio! The Performance Hall will provide the perfect venue for concerts, lectures, and comedians sponsored by the Ohio Union Activities Board. There are over 30 additional rooms that will host a variety of events, but these are not the average meeting rooms. Each tells a piece of Ohio State’s history and tradition, from the land grant mission of the institution to a room that celebrates Ohio State’s cartoon artists through the years.
The Ohio Union will offer seven meal swipe and cash locations. The Union Market showcases a variety of made-to-order options, including salads at the Across the Field station, fresh deli sandwiches from the Dough-HIO station, grilled sandwiches from the Fired Up station, and international cuisines at Buckeye Passports. A coffee shop, Espress-OH, serving hot and cold specialty coffees and homemade gelato is conveniently located by the Ohio Union bus stop. Woody’s Tavern features beer and wine from Ohio as well as pizza cooked in a wood fired oven. Sloopy’s will offer up classic diner favorites at almost all hours of the day, including a special late-night menu served until 4 a.m.
The Ohio Union will be the second LEED certified building on campus, offering several sustainable initiatives. A few examples include a food pulper that recycles waste into fertilizer that will be used at a local farm; efficiency lighting; water conservation in the restrooms and for landscaping; a buy local program; and initiatives to support Ohio businesses.
Guests visiting the Ohio Union can learn about the past and enjoy the present. Permanent exhibits throughout the building tell the history of the student organizations on campus, Ohio State firsts in innovation and achievements in fields across disciplines, and the role the Ohio Union has played throughout Ohio State’s history. Art and literature by Ohio authors and artists will be displayed throughout the building so that guests can actually experience the art. Quiet study spaces and spacious lounges offer students a place to study. The Center for Student Leadership and Service’s 25,000 sq. foot space will offer students a chance to hone their leadership skills and discover new opportunities to emerge as a leader.
Most of all, the new Ohio Union is full of Buckeye spirit. When the Ohio Union was in its planning stages, students overwhelmingly felt they wanted a building that met their needs but could not be set down on any other campus. The result is a union that boasts the tradition of the campus! Carmen Ohio limestone panels and the official university seal will greet guests as they enter the Great Hall. Visitors can even grab a picture with a bronzed Brutus Buckeye! Throughout the rest of the building, subtle elements such as block “O” light fixtures and buckeye leafs remind guests where they are — The Ohio State University!
As the excitement to the new Ohio Union’s opening builds, you can get updated information as well as explore the new building through our construction photo gallery at www.ohiounion.osu.edu/new. Get excited for spring 2010! |
