A project more than a half-century in the making is unfolding at Ohio University. The Patton Center for Arts Education will include an art gallery, lobby, performance hall and rehearsal space that are part of a broader initiative.
"Ohio University has embarked on a $99 million comprehensive renewal of its fine arts facilities that will transform the way our students, faculty, staff and community experience art," Cimmeron O'Connor, chief strategy of operations and facilities officer in the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts told Construction Equipment Guide. "The Patton Center is an opportunity to showcase the work of students and faculty in new and exciting ways."
In April 2025, a groundbreaking was held for the project, which is located on the main campus in Athens. The building is named in recognition of a $50 million gift from the late Violet Patton.
"This project was a true celebration for all that the college has been able to accomplish, and also a look ahead for the possibilities to come with new facilities, equipment and opportunities to enhance the creating that is already taking place," said O'Connor. "We were able to celebrate with several key donors and alumni and learn more about Dr. Patton's legacy and passion for the arts."
Ohio University photo
O'Connor said the Chaddock + Morrow College of Fine Arts includes a number of outdated facilities designed for another era.
"As the college has grown in both size and talent, renovation has become essential. Ohio sees this as an enormous opportunity to reimagine how we teach and share the arts.
"Every student will participate in some form of art, film, music, theater or dance that becomes a part of what is offered to our community — both students and the larger southeast Ohio region."
According to O'Connor, students, faculty and staff will experience this facility on a daily basis, with the space serving as a destination for a region filled with talented makers and creators. This space will not only elevate the work of the university, but also the local arts community.
O'Connor said creating a collaborative community for artists is essential.
"Currently, the College of Fine Arts operates in facilities spread throughout campus. This project will create a new arts and education green which will bring together all five schools in the college and provide an opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration, creative collisions and allow our campus as a whole to experience art on a daily basis."
The project site is a vacant green space lot. Early construction included relocation of underground utilities currently running underneath the proposed building, installation of all new site utilities (electric, natural gas, storm, sanitary, chilled water, condensate, steam, etc.); soil densification under the building via rammed aggregate piers; and site fill to raise the building pad 5 ft. to be above the 100-year flood elevation.
Ohio University photo
Approximately 10,000 cu. yds. of dirt will be moved during construction. Heavy equipment includes excavators, dozers, cranes and drilling rigs for aggregate rammed piers.
Continental Building Company of Columbus, Ohio, serves as general contractor. Construction partners include AECOM, Schuler Shook, JaffeHolden and Moody Engineering.
Larry Hennessey, AIA, senior project manager, Buildings + Places, US West, told Construction Equipment Guide the Patton Center is primarily a single-story building that blends with the architectural character of Ohio University's North Green.
"It uses traditional brick to echo the campus fabric, while introducing fresh, creative detailing inspired by the rhythms and proportions of its neighbors.
A striking south-facing lobby, wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass, creates a welcoming new pedestrian gateway to the North Green. This transparency continues into the rehearsal room, offering passersby a glimpse into the vibrant artistic activity within."
To accommodate the unique spatial needs of performance spaces, the building rises in key areas, such as the audience chamber, mechanical penthouse and fly tower. These taller volumes are clad in lightweight metal panels, referencing the shingled roofs of nearby buildings through their color and pattern.
Hennessey said enabling work on swing space began in August 2024 and has been completed. Also finished are selective demolition and abatement of Seigfred Hall, which houses the School of Art + Design and is undergoing major renovations. Site work for the new Patton Performing Arts Center got under way during summer 2025, with concrete pours taking place in the fall.
According to AECOM, building a 350-seat proscenium theater is a highly collaborative process involving architects, engineers, and specialized consultants in theater design, AV systems and acoustics. Together, they ensure the space meets the complex technical demands of theatrical lighting, rigging, sound and acoustic treatments in a teaching environment.
Ohio University photo
The Patton Center includes one highly adaptable rehearsal hall designed to support music, theater and dance. Each discipline brings unique spatial and technical needs — from specialized acoustic treatments to resilient, performance-appropriate flooring — and the design carefully balances these requirements within a single, flexible space.
Hennessey noted the lobby is conceived as a linear, connective volume that spans nearly the entire south façade. It links the building's three primary public spaces, while also serving as a transparent interface with the North Green.
The Patton Center is expected to be completed in 2026, with students moving into the building by fall 2027. O'Connor said seeing crews at work is exciting for everyone involved.
"It's amazing to reflect on the accomplishments of our fine arts students and know that this new facility will support their creative endeavors for generations to come." CEG
