You have got to be kidding me - Student Union Cost (Columbus: construction, school)

[Zippy7fo]

118 million student center???????????????????????????? What is going on???

Ohio State opens $118 million union | The Columbus Dispatch


I'm all for Ohio doing whatever it can to be leading edge...but this is ridiculous considering the state's economic problems of the last 20-30 years...

[Tenzo]

a student union isn't really leading edge

[14thandYou]

Hah, they've been planning that thing for 15 years. I'm pretty sure it was largely funded through an OSU capital campaign.

What's an appropriate price for a student union building, BTW? I really have no idea.

[shimboon]

Well, what I have to say is that we were just in Columbus last week checking out a job. And we were shown the new student center. We were quite impressed at the attention the city seems to give to education. So, maybe it's more than giving students a new place to hang out. We may very well be moving there partly because of how the University seems to be growing in the right direction!

[NewToCA]

That is a remarkable structure, certainly a great addition for the school and Columbus.


Ohio Union - March 24, 2010 - Ohio Union Photo Gallery

[Bo]

The food service operations there will be a huge revenue source for the university. Food alone will probably make those millions back within a decade and I'm sure that there are plenty of other things generating $$$ in that building.

The more out-of-state and international students each university can attract, the fewer state tax dollars will be needed to support it. Having toured several major universities in the past year, including Ohio State, it's clear that universities around the country are trying to outdo each other to stay competitive. (The Union wasn't open yet when we toured last summer.) Ohio State tried hard to get my out-of-state kid to go there. If I lived in and paid taxes in Ohio, I'd be glad to see them working hard to compete by keeping their facilities top notch.

[other1]

It was much needed and I think it will provided revenue and recruitment possibilities for the University. As for off campus students, that is who should use it. When you have an 8 o'clock and a 4 o'clock, you don't go home, you go to Union to study, eat, ect. On campus students go back to the dorm.

Unfortunately that thing fails as a piece of architecture, another confused, homogenized building that is looking for it's identity. I really thought the university was moving in the right direction with their design intent for the campus. It does provide some some great interior spaces that will fulfill the needs of the University, but the exterior leaves quite a bit to be desired.

[MissingIndiana]

Originally Posted by shimboon

Well, what I have to say is that we were just in Columbus last week checking out a job. And we were shown the new student center. We were quite impressed at the attention the city seems to give to education. So, maybe it's more than giving students a new place to hang out. We may very well be moving there partly because of how the University seems to be growing in the right direction!

I don't think it has much to do with the attention of the city to education. A good portion of the costs of The Union is being paid for by an additional fee on the students each quarter. Even as a professional student who will be spending the next year out of state, I'm still going to be charged a fairly large fee each quarter including summer.

[wrightflyer]

Originally Posted by MissingIndiana

I don't think it has much to do with the attention of the city to education. A good portion of the costs of The Union is being paid for by an additional fee on the students each quarter. Even as a professional student who will be spending the next year out of state, I'm still going to be charged a fairly large fee each quarter including summer.

While I know that certain fees are going towards the Union, I'm pretty sure it is under the banner of operations and hosting the events, concerts, and speakers. Maybe that's what you mean by costs of the Union being paid by student fees? It's somewhat like the airlines, as both the university (and others) and the airlines nickle and dime customers for services, sometimes even basic ones. The big sticking point though for universities is that the nickle and diming must be paid in order to attend. Do graduate students pay as much in fees as undergrads? I'd like to think they don't because they probably use fewer university facilities, but I don't know.

What irks me the most is the cost to use the event space for non-student run organizations. That will also bring in a boat load of money to the University (and keep academic based student groups from being allowed to use the space for free).

As someone said earlier, much of the cost of construction came from a university capital campaign.

As for the state's problems, I see building a place like this as a step in the right direction to keeping young people in the state, even if it's only at the university level. If the state doesn't take steps to modernize its offerings, be they economic or educational, then we will just fall deeper and deeper into the proverbial hole.

[PhillytoCincy]

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

While I know that certain fees are going towards the Union, I'm pretty sure it is under the banner of operations and hosting the events, concerts, and speakers. Maybe that's what you mean by costs of the Union being paid by student fees?

What irks me the most is the cost to use the event space for non-student run organizations. That will also bring in a boat load of money to the University (and keep academic based student groups from being allowed to use the space for free).

As someone said earlier, much of the cost of construction came from a university capital campaign.

As for the state's problems, I see building a place like this as a step in the right direction to keeping young people in the state, even if it's only at the university level. If the state doesn't take steps to modernize its offerings, be they economic or educational, then we will just fall deeper and deeper into the proverbial hole.

Great post! Rep points for you. SW Ohio doesn't have too hard of a time keeping and attracting resident. Central Ohio is one of the fastest growing regions in the Midwest. As long as Ohio can modernize their facilities not only at a university level, but a lot of city attractions, I see many more positive things in the future. We NEED the 3C Corridor!!!!