Bachelor Hall (Miami University)

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Bachelor Hall
Recentbachelor.jpg
Viewed from Patterson Avenue
Bachelor Hall (Miami University)
Interactive map of Bachelor Hall
Former namesCommunications Building
Alternative namesBAC
General information
Typebrick
Architectural style Georgian architecture
Location Oxford, Ohio
Coordinates 39°30′25.8″N84°43′48″W / 39.507167°N 84.73000°W / 39.507167; -84.73000
Completed1978
Cost$5,352,000
Technical details
Floor count3
Floor area260,000 m2 (2,800,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
ArchitectsGeorge F. Roth and partners

Bachelor Hall is an academic building on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1978 and named after Miami alumnus and English professor Joseph M. Bachelor. It houses the English and mathematics departments, the Speech and Hearing Clinic, and the chair of communications and theatre. [1]

History

In April 1977, the Board of Trustees voted to construct a $6 million communications building to be located at the southwest corner of Patterson Avenue and Route 73. During construction, the building at that time was called the Communications Building. [2] On November 4, 1979, Miami University held a dedication ceremony for Joseph M. Bachelor. A member of the class of 1911 and a professor of English at the university from 1927 to 1946, the new communications building would be called Bachelor Hall in his honor and contributions to Miami. Students, staff and faculty came to the ceremony. [3]

After Bachelor Hall was built in 1978, the university had to address issues about traffic and pedestrian crossing. [4] The university and the city of Oxford approved of two pedestrian crosswalks at the intersection of Patterson Avenue and Spring Street. [5] At the same time, they approved pedestrian traffic controllers to regulate traffic signals at the intersections. [6]

In 2024, construction began on a $72 million renovation to the building, to be completed in 2026. [7] The renovations included enclosing the building's courtyard and modernizing its classrooms. After construction is complete, Bachelor Hall will house the university's departments of English, history, journalism, and philosophy, as well as the Miami University Humanities Center, Ohio Writing Project, and other humanities projects. [8] [9]

References

  1. Bachelor Hall. 2005. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved June 10, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Glos, R.E. (1983). The Buildings of Miami University.
  3. Bachelor Hall Dedication Recalls Miami of Old. Miami University Alumni News. January 1, 1980.
  4. Shields, J. (September 27, 1977). Bachelor Hall could alter traffic patterns. The Miami Student, Vol. 101, No. 8.
  5. Fudge, J. (October 10, 1980) Student escapes injury after accident at Bachelor crossing. The Miami Student, Vol. 104, No. 14.
  6. Council approves testing of two Bachelor crossing plans. (January 18, 1980). The Miami Student, Vol. 102, No. 28.
  7. "Construction will greet Miami University students returning to campus". journal-news. July 31, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  8. "Renovations reshaping Bachelor Hall as a hub for the humanities". Miami University. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  9. "Local university receives $1.5M gift from alumnus; here's how it will be used". WKRC. October 20, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2025.