Spring 2021 Edition
Alumni & Friends Magazine

The Richland Avenue Pedestrian Passageway

Grounds for change

Whether your last visit to the Athens Campus was one year ago or decades ago, you’re bound to notice some change. The past year has seen significant transformations—some quite prominent and others a little more behind the scenes.

Take a look at some of the campus upgrades completed in recent months, and stay tuned to future issues of Ohio Today for features on the new Chemistry Building and Heritage Hall that are opening to students this year.

Staff report | April 1, 2021

Richland Avenue Pedestrian Passageway

In October, the city of Athens, in collaboration with Ohio University, completed construction on the Richland Avenue Pedestrian Passageway. The project elevated Richland Avenue and created a wide and well-lit walkway beneath it, connecting OHIO’s West and South Greens, separating pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and eliminating a long-standing campus safety concern. Read more about this project.

2 men standing outside infront of the newly built richland pedestrian tunnel

aerial image of a car driving over the new road bridge on Richland Avenue

View of the bridge facing Porter Hall. Students are about to walk underneath of it

29 Park Place

After housing Ohio University presidents for more than 60 years, 29 Park Place is now the University’s new Academic Engagement Center. The historic home underwent renovations and ADA improvements and will house the Center for Campus and Community Engagement, the OHIO Honors Program, and signature academic engagement programs like the Cutler Scholars and Ohio Fellows programs.

2 chairs in the corner of a room by a book shelf and a fireplace

student walking past 29 park place on fall day

chair with the stairs, a large window, and a chandelier behind it

wooden arches behind the chair in the upstairs of 29 Park Place

aerial view of the corner of the stair railing

Konneker Alumni Center

Alumni’s home on the Athens Campus now has a new ADA-accessible side entrance. Interior renovations include a new ADA-accessible restroom, lower level improvements, HVAC updates, new windows and paint. Thanks to a gift from Dr. Wilfred Konneker, BS ’43, MS ’47, HON ’80, and Ann Lee Hancock Konneker, HON ’80, the building was dedicated 40 years ago this October.