Yellow Springs, Ohio—Antioch University McGregor plans to initiate excavation work on its new campus the week of September 10, 2006. Miller-Valentine Group and LJB have been awarded the contract for the design and construction of the new facility.
“I am delighted to be at this point with our project,” said Dr. Barbara Gellman-Danley, Antioch University McGregor President. “Thanks to the efforts of our partner, Community Resources, we are right on track for initiating excavation work as well as the opening of the new facility early fall 2007.”
“This is our first project with any of the Antioch University campuses and it has been great since day one” said Denny Whitehead, Miller-Valentine Vice President. “Antioch University McGregor, and the community, have been so eager to see this campus come to life; our fast-track design process allowed us to complete the plans in 90 days and bring the campus from excavation to opening in less than 12 months.”
Located at the northwest corner of East Enon and Dayton-Yellow Springs roads, the new 90,000 square foot building will be two stories tall, featuring space that is usable for classrooms and regional events. The National City Auditorium, a 200+-seat conferencing room, will include state-of-the-art distance learning and technology features. A 120-seat multipurpose room is named for Yellow Springs Instruments (YSI, Inc.) and can be combined or divided for a variety of needs. The new campus will feature more than 25 classrooms, technical and creative writing labs, conference rooms for campus and community seminars, and faculty and administrative offices that are easily accessible for students.
According to Toni Murdock, Antioch University Chancellor, “This new campus is an exciting development for McGregor and signifies Antioch University’s willingness to invest in its own growth as well as in the community of Yellow Springs.”
Antioch University McGregor’s new campus will be the single largest new investment in Yellow Springs in more than a decade. In addition to boosting economic development in Yellow Springs and the region, the new facility will allow Antioch University McGregor to expand to meet increasing enrollment demand.
“Community Resources fully supports Antioch University McGregor’s decision to anchor the new 46-acre Yellow Springs Center for Business and Education,” said Carol Gasho, Community Resources President. “We are proud of the well-functioning partnership between Community Resources and Antioch University McGregor and thrilled that our combined efforts have resulted in an outcome of this significance.”
Yellow Springs and Miami Township Community Improvement Corporation (Community Resources) donated 11 acres to Antioch University for construction of the new McGregor campus. The Ohio Higher Education Facilities Commission issued $12 million in bonds to finance the $15- million project. The bonds are guaranteed by Antioch University and will be paid back from McGregor revenues. In addition, McGregor has raised more than $1.6 million in pledges and in-kind contributions.
Danley said fundraising efforts are going quite well, with $1.3 million in cash and more than $0.5 million of in kind contributions pledged including a corporate leadership gift of $200,000 by National City Bank and other significant gifts from YSI, Inc., Virginia W. Kettering Fund, Iddings Foundation and Yellow Springs Community Foundation as well as other corporations and business partners. Generous support from the Antioch University trustees, alumni and employees signifies the strong commitment for the University’s future. The Yellow Springs community, the corporate community and individuals have demonstrated strong recognition of the value of the campus’s dedication to serving adult learners, over 25% of which represent a diverse student body, through their generous support.
“The creation of a new campus with a retreat-like setting will foster intellectual stimulation and provide much-needed seminar and event space that can be used by Miami Valley businesses and Antioch College as well as Antioch University McGregor,” Gellman-Danley said. A new initiative modeled after the Chautauqua Institution in Jamestown, New York will thrive in the setting of the new campus and spawn activities throughout the entire region. Two seminars were offered this summer under the umbrella of the McGregor Institute for Intellectual Development (MIIND). A third seminar will be offered on “The Celluloid Scream,” October 16-20 and will likely become an annual MIIND event.
With over 70 full time employees, McGregor contributes more than $16 million in direct economic impact to the regional economy. Antioch University is the largest employer in Yellow Springs and one of the top ten in Greene County.
Antioch University McGregor offers socially responsive, flexible and innovative education programs for adult learners. McGregor features a wide array of bachelor’s degree completion programs, master’s programs in conflict resolution, management and education and also individualized liberal and professional studies programs.
Antioch is a six campus university located in four states with headquarters in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Antioch University McGregor is one of the six campuses. Each independent campus has its own distinct academic programs, community life and identity while functioning under the centralized Antioch University organizational umbrella that provides appropriate vision and values along with the cost-effective delivery of services. Antioch University exists to develop individuals who desire to grow in their commitment to the improvement of the human condition through responsible leadership in their careers and communities.
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For
media interviews, please contact Dr.
Barbara Gellman-Danley at 937-769-1850
or by e-mail at bdanley@mcgregor.edu |
