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Ohio University South Green Dorm Demolition Ahead of Schedule
By: Joseph Hennessy
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ATHENS — Ohio University officials say the demolition of three dormitories will save the school more than $20 million is ahead of schedule.
“That is money we would have had to spend on the dorms to replace the equipment, to renew the life cycle for the buildings, said Steve Wood, chief facilities officer and senior associate vice president for Facilities Management. “Demolition is a much more cost effective option.”
Officials say the demolition of Armbruster, Atkinson and Smith houses will cost $2.1 million but will save the institution $23 million from deferred maintenance costs.
The three dorms were built in the 1970’s. An open green space used for recreational and intramural activities will replace the dorms.
Wood said all the brick and metal material will be sent to a landfill and recycled with the university getting some money from those recycled materials. Those funds will be used to pay for some of the development of the large green area, like putting down topsoil and planting grass.
The demolition of these dorms were planned before the Ohio University Comprehensive Master Plan of 2016 process began. The buildings were deemed inadequate to meet the needs of the university and the “mod-style” residence halls presented challenges with aging infrastructure and high deferred maintenance costs.
Wood said that there are no plans to demolish any other dormitories at this time and that the demolition so far has gone ahead of schedule.