McDavis Hall construction reaches final stretch ahead of 2026 opening

Photo via Eva Ludke/The New Political

This article was published as part of The New Political’s 2025 Fall Print

In October 2022, the Ohio Board of Trustees approved a housing master plan to build an over 591-bed residence hall on South Green. Since then, the construction of Roderick J. McDavis Hall has commenced. According to Housing and Residence Life, McDavis Hall will be open for residents beginning in August 2026. 

The university finished work on the building’s structure and exterior earlier this year, according to updates from the Office of Facilities Management and Safety. Interior construction, utilities installation and landscaping are ongoing through the fall and winter.

Renderings and early design plans show that the hall will include suite-style rooms, common lounges, and study areas. University officials have also noted that the building will incorporate energy-efficient features as part of ongoing sustainability efforts. Crews are focusing on finishing electrical, plumbing and furnishing work throughout the upcoming winter and spring.

According to Director for Housing Capital and Facilities Planning, Chris Owens, “In addition to the 163,000-square-foot residence hall, the project enhances the surrounding site by creating vibrant gathering spaces that foster campus-wide connection and engagement. These outdoor areas will serve as welcoming hubs for the entire campus community, as well as those enjoying nearby destinations like PawPrint Park, the Hockhocking Adena Bike Trail, and the Hocking River.”

As a way to increase transparency, Ohio University is offering a live stream of the McDavis Hall construction site, viewable via the Housing & Residence Life “Master Plan” page. The camera is active weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing a bird’s-eye view of work as it progresses. Project officials said the live feed was installed to allow students, alumni, and the broader community to observe structural milestones in real time.

Some students have expressed concern about how the new hall might affect housing availability and costs once it opens. “I’m curious whether new buildings like this will make housing more affordable or if it just means higher prices,” said one freshman living in Brown Hall.

“McDavis Hall will be classified as a renovated residence hall, which means its housing rates will align with the University’s established pricing for renovated halls, as outlined under the Ohio Guarantee+.” says Owens. “These rates are locked in for each student cohort, ensuring price predictability throughout their academic journey. The construction of McDavis Hall does not impact tuition rates, and it falls within the existing structure of the University’s housing and guarantee program.”

Once McDavis Hall opens in 2026, the university will begin phased renovations of the ‘Front Four’ residence halls (Pickering, Brown, Mackinnon, and Crawford) from 2027 to 2031. The ‘Back South’ Houses (Wray, Dougan, Ewing, True and Hoover) are slated for demolition near 2030.