Author Topic: Cincinnati: Xavier University projects (Read 33110 times)

UncleRando · « **Reply #70 on:** September 29, 2008, 03:53:57 AM »

In all honesty I'm surprised you still have a car.

jdm00 · « **Reply #71 on:** September 29, 2008, 04:46:26 AM »

Keep it going, X.

REK · « **Reply #72 on:** September 29, 2008, 05:24:11 AM »

Fr. Graham came to my place of employment a couple weeks ago to meet w/ XU alums & current grad students to go over the new projects at XU (and to ask for money in a roundabout way). Most of what he said jives w/ what has been listed in this thread, but it was nice to hear it from the horses mouth.

He said the new "main" entrance to the university would be at Ledgewood and Dana. They're bringing the library (now called the "learning commons"....ugh) around to frame one side of the entrance, and the new Williams College of Business will frame the other side. Both will have towers on the corners to further the effect of a "main" entrance. He said they plan on having both of those buildings, along with Fr Hoff Quad online in time to coincide with the first buildings in Xavier Square.

I've decided to string my grad school out over the next few years so I can see all this completed..... Definitely not the same XU as it was when I got there back in '01.

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #73 on:** September 29, 2008, 05:34:21 AM »

^ Interesting. Fr. Graham's speeches are pretty nice, and he is a very personable character. What I find funny, is the parallels between his President's Opening speech (for new hires) and the one he gave at the groundbreaking

I can't wait for the buildings to be formed!

UncleRando · « **Reply #74 on:** September 30, 2008, 04:43:10 AM »

Xavier's 'most sweeping project in 177 years' breaks ground
http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/hoffquad0930.aspx

Ground was broken on Friday for Xavier University's $115 million Hoff Academic Quadrangle project, which the school bills as "the most sweeping project in the university's 177 years". The centerpieces of the project, located in the area around Dana and Ledgewood avenues, are the new Williams College of Business and the Learning Commons.

The four-story, 88,000-square-foot business college will house both undergraduate and graduate business education programs and will be home to the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Cintas Institute for Business Ethics, and the Center for Investment Research.

In addition to classrooms and offices, the building will include project work rooms, suites for executives in residence, and a multi-media trading room.

"The new Hoff Academic Quad, including the new Business School building, will allow us to continue to attract superb students," says Ali Malekzadeh, dean of the Williams College of Business. "Today's students would like to see a business school building with a trading room, with an ethics center, and with facilities for entrepreneurships student to manage innovative businesses. The new building will help do all of that."

The five-story, 84,000-square-foot Learning Commons will be open 24/7 and will house the Information Resource Center, the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Center for Student Excellence, Honors Seminar, the Center for Community Engaged Learning, and the Pedagogical Institute for Jesuit Education.

Offices, classrooms, informal meeting spaces and specialized learning spaces will share space with a 200-seat auditorium.

The McDonald Library, Hailstones Hall, Schott Hall and Alter Hall will also be modernized, and a new, modern Central Utility Plant will be constructed.

Designed by architects Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott of Boston and to be built by Messer Construction, the Hoff Academic Quad will be constructed to LEED Silver certification standards.

The first phase will be completed in the summer of 2010.

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #75 on:** October 22, 2008, 07:43:20 AM »

To be demolished:
Map

Parking expansion
Today at Xavier, October 17, 2008

The University is preparing to tear down the former Kroger building in the Norwood Plaza on Montgomery Road in an effort to create more parking spaces for basketball games and other University functions. Abatement work on the building is now underway, and demolition is scheduled to begin immediately thereafter. A pedestrian walkway from the west side of the plaza to the Cintas Center parking lot is also being constructed using some of the dirt excavated from the site of the new Williams College of Business. The goal is to have the parking area and walkway completed by the first men’s basketball game on Friday, Nov. 14. When completed, the entire plaza will provide more than 1,100 parking spaces.

UncleRando · « **Reply #76 on:** October 22, 2008, 07:44:47 AM »

Has XU ever heard of parking garages?

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #77 on:** October 22, 2008, 08:06:58 AM »

They are planning for I think two with the Xavier Square and Hoff Academic Quad projects.

xumelanie · « **Reply #78 on:** October 22, 2008, 08:31:43 AM »

The original plans for the Cintas Center included an underground parking garage. Unfortunately, that was removed from the plans because of the expense.

UncleRando · « **Reply #79 on:** October 22, 2008, 10:02:10 AM »

Quote from: xumelanie on October 22, 2008, 08:31:43 AM

The original plans for the Cintas Center included an underground parking garage. Unfortunately, that was removed from the plans because of the expense.

That's funny because a similar story is true for me. I had planned to buy most buildings along Race Street north of Liberty, and then renovate them. Turns out the expenses are too high for that type of an endeavor right now.

Wally · « **Reply #80 on:** October 22, 2008, 11:41:01 PM »

A parking garage is planned for Phase II of the Hoff Academic Quad work. The parking garage that was to be part of the Phase I work was eliminated for budget reasons.

REK · « **Reply #81 on:** October 23, 2008, 01:26:56 AM »

All I'm saying is I can't wait for basketball to start. Got my season tickets in the mail this week.

I don't care if I have to park in a surface lot, parking garage, a ditch, or have David West valet my car.....I'm just happy to be there.

xumelanie · « **Reply #82 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:28:00 AM »

Quote from: REK on October 23, 2008, 01:26:56 AM

All I'm saying is I can't wait for basketball to start. Got my season tickets in the mail this week.

I don't care if I have to park in a surface lot, parking garage, a ditch, or have David West valet my car.....I'm just happy to be there.

My season tickets also arrived this week.

While it would be nice to have a parking garage, I can understand why they didn't build the garage right away. Honestly, I would love to be able to take light rail to get to the games and not even worry about parking, but that is another story.

REK · « **Reply #83 on:** October 23, 2008, 02:58:02 AM »

Light rail? We do have train tracks going right across Cleanay, I wonder if that right of way is still intact along the entire line....

Let's get some street car action right up victory parkway. Make the line start in Mt Adams (maybe connect with a new Incline??) and end at XU. You could even connect it to whatever Uptown loop is going in. I can see a line like that being very well used.

xumelanie · « **Reply #84 on:** October 23, 2008, 03:25:54 AM »

Quote from: REK on October 23, 2008, 02:58:02 AM

Let's get some street car action right up victory parkway. Make the line start in Mt Adams (maybe connect with a new Incline??) and end at XU. You could even connect it to whatever Uptown loop is going in. I can see a line like that being very well used.

As long as it's convenient to get there from downtown/otr.

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #85 on:** November 21, 2008, 04:43:10 AM »

Gone Sweet Home
By Greg Schaber, Xavier Magazine, Fall 2008

Tradition and memory are handy tools for giving life context and, by extension, meaning. Each generation carries its particular set of memories, built on the foundations provided by previous generations. For some Xavier graduates, it may be the old Red Building; for others the post-World War II military–style housing. Still others may recall the houses on Herald Avenue or the old student center.

Click link for article

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #86 on:** December 16, 2008, 06:02:49 AM »

Note: Xavier Square is the mixed-use, student-oriented development planned for the former BASF plant towards Montgomery Road. Hoff Academic Quad, which is under construction, is not affected.

Xavier Square project delayed
By Cliff Peale, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 16, 2008

Xavier University will delay construction of the Xavier Square project on Montgomery Road until the economy improves.

But in a sign that XU has the financial strength to continue to expand, it sold $55.8 million in bonds earlier this month to complete financing for a new library and business school that will straddle a new grand entrance to its Evanston campus.

Click link for article

UncleRando · « **Reply #87 on:** December 16, 2008, 06:34:28 AM »

Work progressing at Xavier's Hoff site
http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2008/12/work-progressing-at-xaviers-hoff-site.html

Work is progressing on Xavier University's Hoff Academic Quad project at Dana Avenue and Ledgewood Drive.

Mass excavation for the Williams College of Business has been completed, with drilled piers nearing completion and foundation work underway.

Foundation work will continue through March.

Earth shoring is being installed behind McDonald Library and work on drilled piers underway, allowing for excavation work for the Learning Commons to proceed in earnest.

The university also reports that Duke Energy is on site relocating public utilities and that work on a utility tunnel, planned to run from the new Central Utility Plant to an area near the Learning Commons, has begun.

The project, which will also include renovations to Alter Hall and University Library, greenspace, and parking, is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2010.

Also, parking for Xavier events is now available at the Norwood Plaza on the site of the old Kroger store.

The store was demolished last month, and fill dirt from the Hoff site was used to create a gravel walkway that connects to the northeast side of the Cintas Center parking lot.

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #88 on:** December 17, 2008, 04:59:47 AM »

A spin on yesterday's article.

Xavier moves ahead on expansion
$55.8M raised despite economy, but 2nd project on hold
By Cliff Peale, Cincinnati Enquirer, December 17, 2008

Xavier University plans to continue its campus expansion in the face of a national recession, just a little more slowly.

In a sign that XU has the financial strength to continue to expand, it sold $55.8 million in bonds in early December to complete financing for a new library and business school that will straddle a new main entrance to its Evanston campus.

Click link for article

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #89 on:** January 27, 2009, 01:27:28 PM »

It goes without saying that Xavier is currently in the midst of a financial issue that dates back several years, exaggerated by today's financial and economic recession. With that, Father Graham has released a letter outlining just what may and what will happen to Xavier in the future -- including job terminations. I've heard rumors of possible job cuts, but this is the first tangible evidence that it will happen.

http://www.urbanup.net/docs/XavierLetterJan2909.pdf

mcmicken · « **Reply #90 on:** January 28, 2009, 12:48:00 AM »

Quote from: Sherman Cahal on December 16, 2008, 06:02:49 AM

Xavier University will delay construction of the Xavier Square project on Montgomery Road until the economy improves.

Removed rest of article - xumelanie

This might be still moving forward. Xavier is currently interviewing architectural firms to move forward with the project without Corporex.

Jimmy_James · « **Reply #91 on:** January 28, 2009, 01:09:56 AM »

^Did Corporex back out then? I didn't get that impression from the article.

mcmicken · « **Reply #92 on:** January 28, 2009, 01:13:37 AM »

^I don't know if they backed out, or just couldn't do it at this time. The gist that I got was that Xavier is going alone on this.

Jimmy_James · « **Reply #93 on:** January 28, 2009, 01:37:13 AM »

Interesting. Well, at least Xavier is doing what it can to move forward. I think these projects are pretty important to XU's future.

Wally · « **Reply #94 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:35:27 AM »

Mcmicken- do you have any more information on XU moving forward with Xavier Square without Corporex?

I was just reading through Father Graham's letter, and from what he mentions in that letter, it seems like XU is on hold with Xavier Square? However, it mentions something to the effect of XU beginning discussions on how to solve their residence hall shortage?

Every time I drive by this site, I just imagine how nice the area is going to look as you drive down Dana toward the campus from Montgomery Road. Once Xavier Square is complete (whenever that occurs) along with the Hoff Academic Quad work, it'll be a site to see. I was all excited to see some progress on the Xavier Square site once the implosion of the Zumbiel Plant took place last spring, but it's been pretty quiet on the site ever since.

mcmicken · « **Reply #95 on:** January 29, 2009, 08:43:00 AM »

^
Unfortunately, I don't have much more than the fact that they are interviewing local architects for the project and it may be still moving forward. I'll see if I can find out more, but my source is on the architect side, not the Xavier side.

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #96 on:** January 29, 2009, 01:37:50 PM »

Yeah, XU is moving forward, but without Corprex. They are interviewing local architects, as already stated, but instead of building out the development in one swift move, it may occur in phases over a great number of years.

dmerkow · « **Reply #97 on:** January 30, 2009, 03:00:06 AM »

Honestly, for an urban spot that XU is trying to redevelop, I think a longer process might end up with something more interesting and fit to needs of the students and the neighborhood.

The_Cincinnati_Kid · « **Reply #98 on:** April 03, 2009, 02:36:54 AM »

At Xavier, sprucing up ‘front door for campus’
Dana Avenue facelift to have 2 new gateway buildings
Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Steve Watkins Staff Reporter

People driving by the Xavier University campus on Dana Avenue soon won’t recognize the place. Xavier is undergoing a facelift.

The first phase of the James E. Hoff, S.J. Quadrangle, under construction now, will include two prominent buildings, each about 85,000 square feet. The new Williams College of Business and a Learning Commons will flank Ledgewood Avenue along Dana Avenue.

Click link for articlehttp://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/04/06/focus11.html

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #99 on:** April 03, 2009, 03:52:37 AM »

Bah. I reported on this yesterday in the random Cincinnati developments thread regarding Dana Avenue. Good to hear though!

jdm00 · « **Reply #100 on:** April 04, 2009, 03:11:09 AM »

Sounds good. I'm really excited to see the effect of these buildings on campus.

UncleRando · « **Reply #101 on:** May 19, 2009, 12:11:28 AM »

Hoff Academic Quad photo update, 5/9/09, Part I
http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2009/05/hoff-academic-quad-photo-update-5909.html

Part one of this construction tour of Xavier University's $115 million James E. Hoff Academic Quadrangle shows the new Williams College of Business building on the northeast corner of Dana Avenue and Ledgewood Drive, scheduled to open in 2010.

Part of a new 9.5-acre campus entrance that also includes a new Learning Commons and central utility plant, the four-story, 88,000-square-foot building will house the Center for Entrepreneurship; the Cintas Institute for Business Ethics; and the Center for Investment Research; new classrooms; a trading room; a data mining laboratory; and a studio for taping and reviewing sales presentations.

The building will be constructed to LEED Silver standards.

Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott are the project architects, and Messer Construction Co. is the construction contractor.

A second phase of the project, renovations to McDonald Library, Alter Hall and Schott Hall, will begin in 2010 and be completed in 2012.

There are 26 photos in this slideshow.

Hoff Academic Quad photo update, 5/9/09, Part II
http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2009/05/hoff-academic-quad-photo-update-5909_20.html

Part two of this construction tour of Xavier University's $115 million James E. Hoff Academic Quadrangle shows the new Learning Commons on the northwest corner of Dana Avenue and Ledgewood Drive and the new central utility plant on the southwest corner of Dana and Woodburn avenues, both scheduled to open in 2010.

Part of a new 9.5-acre campus entrance that also includes a new building for the Williams College of Business, the five-story, 84,000 Learning Commons will house the university's Information Resource Center, the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Center for Student Excellence, Honors Seminar, the Center for Community Engaged Learning, and the Pedagogical Institute for Jesuit Education.

Open 24/7 for students, faculty and staff, the building will also include a 200-seat auditorium, offices, classrooms, and informal meeting spaces.

At approximately 30,000 square feet, the central utility plant will deliver more efficient and environmentally-friendly power to the campus.

There are 26 photos in this slideshow.

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #102 on:** August 07, 2009, 12:46:11 AM »

Got word today that the
remaining houses at Ledgewood and Herald will be demolished next year for a new student housing development.

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #103 on:** November 03, 2009, 01:22:19 AM »

Xavier Tunnel Tour
Older but still quite nice.
http://www.xavier.edu/xaviermedia/Tunnel-Tour.cfm

Sherman Cahal · « **Reply #104 on:** November 03, 2009, 07:54:00 AM »

Whoa. Big news! Got this in from a co-worker:

"As many of you already know, Dorothy Day House is coming down this year to make room for the new residence hall. We have recently learned that this will be happening earlier than originally thought; DDH will be coming down the beginning of second semester, and will be closed after finals week this December! We are currently exploring options for where we will be housed in January, and will let you all know ASAP!"

They are tearing down the houses at the corner of Ledgewood and Herald this year and will be letting out bids for construction of a new major residence hall project next year. I am unsure on the status of the three lone houses left on Ledgewood, but I suspect they will be demolished sometime soon.

More news on this coming soon...

News:

Author Topic: Cincinnati: Xavier University projects (Read 33110 times)