Capital Projects

Central State University President Dr. Jack Thomas, Dr. Schlag of the Honors College and other participants cut the ribbon for the new Honors College at Central State University

Central State University is consistently looking for ways to improve our campus community to ensure the safety, well-being, and positive morale of the students in which we serve. To do so, we are constantly updating, and repairing the appearance of the university that we believe will grant us overall growth, longevity and sustainability. As an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, we have been granted the opportunity to serve all 88 counties in the state of Ohio by providing research and extension services. This requires Central State to provide high quality educational experiences for our students. Capital Projects allow Central State to properly equip buildings with state-of-the-art technology, software, and other university needs, which is so important to the growth, longevity and sustainability of the university.

Preparing campus for future generations

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine participates in the Honors College groundbreaking at Central State University

The University has begun an aggressive building campaign that will expand the campus's physical capacity and footprint. The projected cost of this expansion is $65 million. This investment will improve the physical landscape of the campus and support the initiative of making Central State a unique destination as Ohio's only public HBCU and 1890 Land-Grant Institution.

The following are the seven projects and the key attributes of each facility. These projects represent a major priority for the University and are key to its aggressive growth over the next 24-36 months. All projects will be complete by the fall of 2024.

  • Completed in fall 2022, the new Honors Residential Hall and Administrative Complex has 119 beds with 65 apartment-style units. These units are available to Honors students only and have the latest technology and amenities, such as a computer lab, student collaborative spaces, tutoring areas, a vending area, a laundry facility, and the administrative offices for the Honors College.

  • This facility will encompass approximately 15,600 square feet, including offices, classrooms, and fitness areas for faculty staff, and researchers in the new College of Public Health. The expansion of the health programming plan will expand our academic offerings and student recruitment efforts. In addition, our development of research opportunities, especially in minority health, is an expanding mission for the University.

    The cost of this facility is $5.5 million with expected completion in the summer of 2024.

  • This project will be an adaptive reuse of the existing facility building of 14,500 square feet and the construction of a new high bay 42,400-square-foot recreation facility. The Wellness Center will include new spaces for weight and fitness, a climbing wall, lockers, restrooms, administrative space, and other indoor sports spaces, all in the existing building.

    The new Recreation building would be connected to the Wellness Center and will include an indoor jogging track and 3 full-size courts in the interior of the tack. The cost of the combined facility is $10.7 million with expected completion in the fall of 2023.

  • This new facility will encompass 16,000 square feet of facilities administration and storage shops, a fenced outdoor storage facility, and utility extensions. The facility will be the central hub for campus physical infrastructure monitoring, fleet management, and capital development. The cost of construction for this facility is $4.9M with the expected completion in the spring of 2023 or soon thereafter.

  • The facility will span 26,726 square feet and have 146 beds and 72 individual units with the latest in technology and amenities, including collaborative spaces, a computer lab, tutoring rooms, and a new dining facility. This new facility will overlook the football stadium and offer quick access to health and recreation facilities. The cost of this facility is $10 million and is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2024.

  • This facility will encompass 24,000 square feet and have 96 beds and 48 individual units. These units will be available to Honors students only and will have the latest in technology and amenities, such as collaborative spaces, tutoring areas, a vending area, and laundry facilities. The cost of this facility is $8.8 million and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2024.

  • This housing community, which opened in the fall of 2023, encompasses 26,900 square feet with 72 beds and 24 apartment-style units available to any student, including the non-traditional population. The cost of this facility is $8.1 million.