Through June 14, Hanley Hall had been reduced to rubble, with South Hall up next.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — As the summer sun warms its picturesque campus, Wittenberg University’s skyline is amidst a season of change.

Simultaneous construction projects are under way at either end of Alumni Way, on the east side of campus. A new residence hall at the intersection of Cassilly Street and Alumni Way is nearly complete, while a block away, South and Hanley halls, buildings that have served as residences for Wittenberg students for more than 50 years, are being razed, soon to be replaced by green space across from the Benham-Pence Student Center.

With the demolition of the two longtime residence halls comes a dramatic change to the university’s landscape. Visitors arriving on campus on Ward Street will have a completely new view of the campus as a dynamic university renews itself physically in an effort to continue to serve the needs of its student population.

“The construction of the new residence hall has allowed us to not only add first-rate residence hall space to campus, but it has also allowed us to remove our two most lacking residence halls,” Paulsen said. “The demolition will also greatly enhance the view of our grounds along one of the most heavily trafficked routes into campus.”

While the construction projects, connected by the attractive brick pavers of Alumni Way along what was once a section of Woodlawn Avenue, are changing Wittenberg’s physical landscape dramatically, they also will go a long way toward improving the quality of campus life. The new, state-of-the-art residence hall will cater to the needs of today’s students in a different way than Hanley and South halls, built in 1961 and 1955 respectively.

Construction crews brought in the heavy equipment for this job.

The combined capacity of Hanley and South halls was approximately 300 beds, replaced with a new residence hall that includes 157 rooms, with 195 beds, in 49,249 square feet of living space. It is a better use of space, however, and its design better accommodates the needs of the university community, according to John Paulsen, director of physical plant, safety and environment.

“Because the design of the building is based on nine separate wings, instead of just the traditional separation by floors, the facility is much more efficient in its use, allowing for the reduction in total beds available on campus,” Paulsen said.

The new residence hall will be home to first-year students exclusively in an attempt to address the recommendations of a first-year experience committee that examined campus life and how students adjust to Wittenberg. In providing easily accessible laundry facilities and lounge areas with computers, high-speed Internet connections and comfortable furnishings on each floor, the design speaks to the wishes of students who participated in focus groups.

“Students were involved from the very beginning of the design process and many of their recommendations have been incorporated into the building,” Paulsen said.

Wittenberg's new residence hall, pictured here from the front steps of the Benham-Pence Student Center, nears completion.

Demolition of Hanley and South halls began a day after the university’s Commencement exercises on May 13. The first section of Alumni Way, which is designed exclusively for pedestrian traffic, was completed in 2004 and dedicated on Oct. 23 of that year. It is named in recognition of the continuous support of the university’s more than 25,000 alumni worldwide.

The rest of the walkway, which includes three circular areas created as gathering spots for the campus community, and the new residence hall are scheduled to be completed in July. The first students will move into the residence hall in August. Dedication ceremonies for the new residence hall and the completed Alumni Way have not been scheduled.

Contractors involved in this summer’s construction projects are Cornett Martin Demolition of Dayton, Ohio, Sollmann Electric Co. of Sidney, Ohio, Keen & Cross, Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio, (rooftop asbestos abatement) and Thomas & Marker Construction Co. of Bellefontaine, Ohio.

- Ryan Maurer
- Arundati Dandapani '07 contributed to this release

072-06

Related Links:

Contact: Ryan Maurer (937) 327-6114 Send a Message

Additional Headlines: • Wittenberg Student Inspired By Experience At National Convention • Wittenberg Constructs First-Ever Geek House To Foster Student Innovation • Wittenberg Welcomes Diverse, Accomplished Class of 2012 To Campus • Wittenberg Students Recount Life-Changing African Service Trip • Alumni Couple Fuels Entrepreneurship By Establishing Endowed Chair • Physics Professor Dan Fleisch Writes Best-Selling Book • Wittenberg Students Celebrate Springfield Through Internship Program