As a distinct campus with buildings on the Historic Registry, Oglethorpe University is continuously working to enhance campus beauty and ensure facilities are supporting student success.
“The beauty of our campus is a key factor for students when choosing Oglethorpe,” said Pete Stobie, Oglethorpe’s senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer. “We work hard to keep the campus beautiful, stay on top of maintenance, and continue to look at areas for improvement. The Facilities team is focused on keeping the campus looking, and functioning, at its best.”
The most visible projects recently completed or launched include the following:
Traer Hall staircases – Three staircases have been replaced in the inner courtyard at Traer Hall. These staircases were due for a replacement and the new staircases are part of the ongoing plan to improve the look, and functionality of the building.
Landscaping around Lupton and Hearst Halls – The landscaping surrounding Lupton and Hearst Halls has been removed to make way for a new design that will better showcase the buildings. Working with Oglethorpe’s arborist, it was determined that it was time to replace landscaping with healthier plants and trees. The new landscaping will be implemented over the course of the spring planting season. Also, across the campus seven new trees were planted, some trees were removed, and the canopy raised. This is part of a long-term tree project that Oglethorpe has been working on for the last five plus years. This project was funded by a generous gift from Robert Bowden ’66.
Hearst Hall ground floor – The first level of Hearst Hall was previously occupied by the Piedmont School. After the school closed this past year, discussions began to convert the space for campus use. The floor will initially include accessible classrooms, drop-in offices, restrooms, a conference room with the latest in audio/visual equipment, and student lounge spaces. Commuter students who park in the Hearst lot will now have a convenient place to study, eat, meet with friends or hang out while on campus.
DuBose Circle features an inlaid Oglethorpe quatrefoil, a design borrowed from the iron gates of historic Hermance Stadium and featured in the Oglethorpe logo.
DuBose Circle – The university worked with a design firm to enhance the DuBose Circle and create a more inviting and functional gathering space on the quad. The space is completed and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled in the near future. The project was made possible by a generous gift from Dean DuBose Smith ’70.
Card access control pads – Oglethorpe ID cards and card access readers will be replaced across campus. Additional information will be provided once an implementation schedule has been set.
