People judge greeks but I lived in the dorms my freshman year then the frat house for the next 3 and was within easy walking distance of the entire campus and Campus Corner. It was awesome.

For the life of me, I could never understand people who opt to live in some crappy apartment with tons of non-students and have to hunt for a parking space every day.

I get not wanting to live in the dorms with freshman but on-campus housing of any other type would be strongly preferable to being completely removed from the action.

OU to end free parking at Lloyd Noble Center for fall semester

http://www.oudaily.com/news/ou-to-end-free-parking-at-lloyd-noble-center-for/article_7bf13dee-55ff-11e7-8085-8bf6c129796a.html

This is budget-related on its face, but it wouldn't surprise me if charging for previously free parking is also a way of encouraging some percentage of off-campus students to live on-campus instead.

Students will soon figure out that with decent options, living on campus is far superior that driving, searching endlessly for parking, paying for that privilege, then being completely disconnected from the school the moment you drive home.

I realize every 19 year-old is keen to have 'their own place' but their 25 year-old self needs to tell them they have their whole life to live in cheapo apartments and college only comes once.

OU to end free parking at Lloyd Noble Center for fall semester

http://www.oudaily.com/news/ou-to-end-free-parking-at-lloyd-noble-center-for/article_7bf13dee-55ff-11e7-8085-8bf6c129796a.html

This is budget-related on its face, but it wouldn't surprise me if charging for previously free parking is also a way of encouraging some percentage of off-campus students to live on-campus instead.

Ya people are going to be pissed. Having seen the size the free parking grew to last year it was getting very packed. I would see students waiting for up to 30 minutes to get on a bus as each one was packed full.

I figured they would add more buses but it looks like they are going to thin the herd this way instead. I am surprised they just haven't eliminated freshman parking all together. A lot of other large schools do not allow freshman to park, or they charge very heavy cost to discourage it.

DBo has already ordered that this be reversed per his Twitter account.

Students will soon figure out that with decent options, living on campus is far superior that driving, searching endlessly for parking, paying for that privilege, then being completely disconnected from the school the moment you drive home.

I realize every 19 year-old is keen to have 'their own place' but their 25 year-old self needs to tell them they have their whole life to live in cheapo apartments and college only comes once.
Norman needs to copy off of Stillwater. At Stillwater, mid level apartment complexes have been going up within easy walking distance of OSU with parking for each floor. So students are not all that disconnected from campus life as they would be from living with the heavy suburban congestion on N. Perkins Rd. The increased residential density will stimulate commercial development in the area, which surely helps to explain why Sprouts decided to come to Stillwater.

DBo has already ordered that this be reversed per his Twitter account.

Yeah, that was fast!

Norman needs to copy off of Stillwater. At Stillwater, mid level apartment complexes have been going up within easy walking distance of OSU with parking for each floor. So students are not all that disconnected from campus life as they would be from living with the heavy suburban congestion on N. Perkins Rd. The increased residential density will stimulate commercial development in the area, which surely helps to explain why Sprouts decided to come to Stillwater.

There is a lot more empty space around OSU than OU. OU is pretty boxed in and all areas around it are houses and apartments already.

Paid parking is extremely limited there now too. If my sister, who was living at the dorms, came home for the weekend, she would need to leave early Sunday to get a spot on campus.... or she would have to park at Lloyd Noble and take a shuttle back.

There is tons and tons of space to the south of the current dorms... Lots of old, small buildings and land.

They should build another parking structure near the towers that could serve all, including future new units.

And there is a very large private complex just finishing on Brooks to the east of campus.

I've always been amazed that there aren't more high-density projects around OU. OU does have less land overall, but that should just entice developers to get creative on smaller plots of land...

There is a lot more empty space around OSU than OU. OU is pretty boxed in and all areas around it are houses and apartments already.
As a matter of fact, land directly around OSU is prime urban, except for the rural northwest side, which is owned by OSU. I tend to doubt OSU ever wants to sell that part to private developers. Old real estate had to be cleared off before two mid rise apartment complexes went up with a third one now under construction, all near OSU. So there was no empty space starting out.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou062417a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou062417b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou062417c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou062417d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou062417e.jpg

I think the new dorms look great. Can't wait to check them out.

Great pics!

Awesome. Now we just need to see Cate Center redeveloped.

At one time (about 10 years ago) there was a plan to fully renovate and expand the Huffman Center to the north with a new indoor pool and outdoor pool area. Now that the Huffman is boxed in to the north I wonder if they would expand to the south where there is a parking lot and green space along 4th St? That and the aforementioned Cate Center are the last pieces of a significant redevelopment of student housing at OU. Very few other state universities will have something that matches what OU has with their housing and rec center so central to the rest of campus.

Holy crap! I had no idea they had already gotten so far with the old Cross center area. Google maps is so outdated now... I can't believe how much they have built over the last decade, especially with all the budget cuts to everything.

New living in the old Cross Center area. It is a public-private venture with OU leasing the land.

I have a feeling the towers won't be around in 10 years?

http://www.oudaily.com/news/ou-announces-more-on-campus-housing/article_2bc4ba28-7187-11e7-b635-c3f907c40a42.html

Also looks like today the new dorms are 90 percent full which is nice. I also read that if a student is above 21 they are allowed to have alcohol in their dorm but not give to others under 21.

Are the renderings for this massive new housing complex (the Cross complex) some sort of ultra top-secret document?

I can't find them anywhere and an article gets written without one image. So strange.

Are the renderings for this massive new housing complex (the Cross complex) some sort of ultra top-secret document?

I can't find them anywhere and an article gets written without one image. So strange.

I guess they don't have them out yet for some reason. They usually put project at AES when ready: http://www.ou.edu/content/aes/current_projects.html

I guess they don't have them out yet for some reason. They usually put project at AES when ready: http://www.ou.edu/content/aes/current_projects.html

There was a sketch of some sort in a BoR agenda when they first started soliciting proposals, but I haven't seen anything since then. Have no idea what the finished product is supposed to look like. I'm hoping they aren't done as cheaply as Traditions.

I also read that if a student is above 21 they are allowed to have alcohol in their dorm but not give to others under 21.

I thought President Boren had made the entire campus area a strict no-alcohol zone for anyone, regardless of age?

I thought President Boren had made the entire campus area a strict no-alcohol zone for anyone, regardless of age?

I lived in the Traditions Apartments (which are on-campus) about 7 years ago and we were able to have alcohol.

Are the renderings for this massive new housing complex (the Cross complex) some sort of ultra top-secret document?

I can't find them anywhere and an article gets written without one image. So strange.

This is the only one I could find. The article below states the residence halls south of the Huffman Center will have 1,231 beds, 40k SF of retail and academic space and an adjacent 1,000 car parking garage. At $194 million this is one of the largest non-athletic projects in OU history, and combined with the other residence halls along Lindsey is the largest project in the history of the University.

Timberdell is south of the parking garage which is due east of the swim complex that is slated for eventual replacement either at this location or as part of an expansion of the Huffman Center on the parking lots to the south. I've heard recently that after the student housing buildings are completed they will begin to address the renovation/expansion of the Huffman Center and make it a hub for student recreation and fitness.
http://www.studenthousingbusiness.com/media/k2/items/cache/79d73272824fe2ee515fc4e50a0d1c23_XL.jpg

http://www.studenthousingbusiness.com/latest-news/joint-venture-breaks-ground-on-194-million-mixed-use-project-at-university-of-oklahoma

Are they not going to have a fullsize practice field any longer?

Thank you!

I've heard recently that after the student housing buildings are completed they will begin to address the renovation/expansion of the Huffman Center and make it a hub for student recreation and fitness.
I heard this recently as well - it would be nice if they were to actually get serious about updating/expanding the Huff with a new swim complex. It's badly needed!

Are they not going to have a fullsize practice field any longer?

That's just the turf part. They will have a full one on the west side that is grass and they also utilize fields out by Lloyd noble thst are full sized.

That's just the turf part. They will have a full one on the west side that is grass and they also utilize fields out by Lloyd noble thst are full sized.

Thanks

I remembered they used to have a couple right there to the South and just figured they liked having it close.

I think you can click this to see a larger version of that same image.
14038

It's amazing how much things have changed on campus over the years, but there is a huge price to be paid.

Of course OU has to compete with other schools who are building and renovating at big levels as well.

But I just did the math...

I know when I started at OU in 1978, my total tuition and fees were about $800 per year.

Now, that number is $11,284 per year according to the OU website.

Adjusted for inflation, that is still FOUR TIMES the cost!

And the same is true for dorm housing, although after adjusting for inflation today's equivalent the $10,500 per year is only 3.5 X as much as what I paid as a freshman.


It's gotten to the point that it's no longer a slam dunk to send your kids to school because even if you can afford it, the investment (close to $100K for a 4-year, in-state public university) might not be worth it. And that's sad.

It's amazing how much things have changed on campus over the years, but there is a huge price to be paid.

Of course OU has to compete with other schools who are building and renovating at big levels as well.

But I just did the math...

I know when I started at OU in 1978, my total tuition and fees were about $800 per year.

Now, that number is $11,284 per year according to the OU website.

Adjusted for inflation, that is still FOUR TIMES the cost!

And the same is true for dorm housing, although after adjusting for inflation today's equivalent the $10,500 per year is only 3.5 X as much as what I paid as a freshman.


It's gotten to the point that it's no longer a slam dunk to send your kids to school because even if you can afford it, the investment (close to $100K for a 4-year, in-state public university) might not be worth it. And that's sad.

Agree 100%. As nice as those dorms are, and as relatively "economical" as OU is, it still costs an average family what, for them, is a small fortune. It's also why my son is a commuter going into his fourth year after tranferring from OCCC. The costs are insane....and that doesn't even touch the book racket. Then again, when I saw that something like ten or twenty of the faculty in just the Price Business School make in excess of ~.$250-300k annually, you start to see part of the problem.

It's amazing how much things have changed on campus over the years, but there is a huge price to be paid.

Of course OU has to compete with other schools who are building and renovating at big levels as well.

But I just did the math...

I know when I started at OU in 1978, my total tuition and fees were about $800 per year.

Now, that number is $11,284 per year according to the OU website.

Adjusted for inflation, that is still FOUR TIMES the cost!

And the same is true for dorm housing, although after adjusting for inflation today's equivalent the $10,500 per year is only 3.5 X as much as what I paid as a freshman.


It's gotten to the point that it's no longer a slam dunk to send your kids to school because even if you can afford it, the investment (close to $100K for a 4-year, in-state public university) might not be worth it. And that's sad.

What is crazier is that OU and OSU are still (I believe) the cheapest of all the Big 12 schools to go to. Iowa State might be cheaper but a few years ago we were the cheapest here. Just crazy if you live in Texas.

There is this constant arms race between schools to upgrade facilities, like the aforementioned Huston Huffman Center swim complex.

Really? I know other schools have nice pools and such but come on... This is college not a theme park. And they aren't even in school during the summers.

I just think this has all gone completely out of control in the attempt to keep up with the Joneses.

When a middle class family can no longer afford to send their child to the state's flagship public university, it's time to pump the brakes and the opposite seems to be happening.

There is this constant arms race between schools to upgrade facilities, like the aforementioned Huston Huffman Center swim complex.

Really? I know other schools have nice pools and such but come on... This is college not a theme park. And they aren't even in school during the summers.

I just think this has all gone completely out of control in the attempt to keep up with the Joneses.

When a middle class family can no longer afford to send their child to the state's flagship public university, it's time to pump the brakes and the opposite seems to be happening.

You can thank student loan companies for that. As long as people take out loans to send people to college the price doesn't matter.

The state also cuts the funding to the state schools so they raise the only thing they can, tuition. I work at OU and I will say the hiring freeze is rough as well as the cuts. We run very bare bones here and I know for a fact this year we have to eliminate another staff position. We have the lowest staff we have ever had in the last 15 years and we are up something like 300 more students each year. More with less has not been fun.

What is crazier is that OU and OSU are still (I believe) the cheapest of all the Big 12 schools to go to. Iowa State might be cheaper but a few years ago we were the cheapest here. Just crazy if you live in Texas.

Surely Kansas State Community College is cheaper. It's like the worst academic school in the Big12. I'd agree Iowa State has got to be towards the bottom as well.

From http://www.collegetuitioncompare.com/compare/tables/?ids=223232-153603-155317-155399-207500-207388-228778-228875-229115-238032&name=Big%2012%20Conference%20Schools:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/big12tuition.jpg

Forgot about WVU, but yeah I'd imagine they are towards the bottom as well. I knew 2 people, that couldn't get into UCO that got into K-State. I couldn't believe this. I remember doing some searching at the time and saw that indeed K-State had like 100% admission rate at the time, which was higher than UCO's. They may have since changed, but I've always heard that school is a bottom dweller in academics compared to most all D-1 schools.

Edit. Looking at that list I'm surprise UT is so cheap. It (academically speaking) is one of the more prestigious schools in the Big12 and I'd have thought it would be pricier than it is.

Here are the latest academic rankings by US News; Baylor & TCU are private the rest are public:

56 - Texas
71 – Baylor
82 - TCU
111 - Oklahoma
111 - Iowa State
118 – Kansas
135 - Kansas State
152 - Oklahoma State
176 - Texas Tech
183 - West Virginia

Here are the latest academic rankings by US News; Baylor & TCU are private the rest are public:

56 - Texas
71 – Baylor
82 - TCU
111 - Oklahoma
111 - Iowa State
118 – Kansas
135 - Kansas State
152 - Oklahoma State
176 - Texas Tech
183 - West Virginia

I know these are subjective but US News is a pretty good source, and it's good to see OU ranked as high as it is especially with the state continuing to decrease funding. KU and Iowa State are both excellent public universities and being just ahead of them is wonderful.

Boren has stated in the past that he wants to see OU become a Top 100 ranked university. Sadly without more state funding I don't know if that will ever happen.

Pete, you and I were at OU at the same time. I remember, vividly, the need for athletic facilities because I would be stir crazy between study bi ges. I also know a lot of weekend nights I might have been playing hoops or some other sport if the Huffman Center had been there..... instead I drank with dorm buddies. Thank goodness nothing too bad happened but I am totally in favor of having a great student athletic facility to keep students occupied ON CAMPUS. Some people like to swim so pools are fine. I think intramural sports, martial arts, weight lifting, etc should virtually be mandatory. Fitness keeps your brain healthy.

I know these are subjective but US News is a pretty good source, and it's good to see OU ranked as high as it is especially with the state continuing to decrease funding. KU and Iowa State are both excellent public universities and being just ahead of them is wonderful.

Boren has stated in the past that he wants to see OU become a Top 100 ranked university. Sadly without more state funding I don't know if that will ever happen.

First, these rankings are easily gamed and only meaningful because people give them credence. Sorry, I work in academia and a university can improve in meaningful ways without it at all affecting their ranking. There are plenty of stories on this if you're interested. Second, I'm pretty sure OU has already been in the top 100 recently and may be again... and while the rankings are bunk, they can be used by a university in a lot of ways. But, yes, Oklahoma education at all levels desperately needs a funding increase. My friends at universities have told me how drastic slashes have been to important functions that actually do affect student and faculty quality of experiences.

It's gotten to the point that it's no longer a slam dunk to send your kids to school because even if you can afford it, the investment (close to $100K for a 4-year, in-state public university) might not be worth it. And that's sad.

Absolutely this. And you're right that it might not even be worth it. It used to be a foregone conclusion that a kid would attend college after high school but I think now days parents have to really weigh that. The Art of Manliness (Whose site owner, Brett McKay, is an OU grad) had an interesting series a while back called Is College for Everyone? I also agree with Mike Rowe that vo-techs and the industries that they train for is unfairly looked down upon. An HVAC tech or a plumber may not be a glamorous job, but here in Oklahoma you can comfortably support a family on such pay.

First, these rankings are easily gamed and only meaningful because people give them credence. Sorry, I work in academia and a university can improve in meaningful ways without it at all affecting their ranking. There are plenty of stories on this if you're interested. Second, I'm pretty sure OU has already been in the top 100 recently and may be again... and while the rankings are bunk, they can be used by a university in a lot of ways. But, yes, Oklahoma education at all levels desperately needs a funding increase. My friends at universities have told me how drastic slashes have been to important functions that actually do affect student and faculty quality of experiences.

This.

I'm almost certain as well they were ranked maybe in the 80's in the past 5 years at one point.

The third one is of the new physics building on the south oval.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou081117a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou081117b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou081117c2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ou081117d.jpg

Great photos Pete. This all looks fantastic. Real interested to see it come football time.

I know it's been a while but I really like what they did with Gould Hall. It was really ugly when I was there.

I am sure it's convenient to have those practice fields right next to the stadium, but I'd actually like to see both sides of the stadium entrance developed with campus buildings (e.g., classrooms, student housing, whatever). I actually think the density would give a more impressive feel to the stadium.

That area around Jenkins and Lindsey is unrecognizable from just a few years ago.

I know a lot of people bemoaned the razing of that old strip center and the original O'Connell's, but it was a complete dump and they had stopped allowing people in-and-out of the games anyway.

The net effect is that all the commercial and bars became concentrated on Campus Corner which is now also about 10x better with plenty more to come.

From what I've been hearing, the Bud Wilkinson complex of buildings on the NE side of Lindsey/Jenkins will be coming down soon for another project. I'm sure this has already been discussed though on previous pages of this thread.

From what I've been hearing, the Bud Wilkinson complex of buildings on the NE side of Lindsey/Jenkins will be coming down soon for another project. I'm sure this has already been discussed though on previous pages of this thread.

Yes, I think they're putting in an academic center and alumni club of sorts for former athletes.

This may have already been discussed, but are there plans to remodel/update Loyd Noble. I know they are adding on to the South, but the center looks out dated. Would love to see it bricked to match all the other new construction.

This may have already been discussed, but are there plans to remodel/update Loyd Noble. I know they are adding on to the South, but the center looks out dated. Would love to see it bricked to match all the other new construction.

Only the Blake Griffin addon is planned now.

I know this is much too late now given all of the recent dollars poured into the LNC, but I would have loved to see McCasland Fieldhouse be renovated and expanded to be the main basketball facility for OU, similar to Gallagher-Iba....build a new "shell" around the existing structure that looks similar.

Just my two-cents :-)

I know this is much too late now given all of the recent dollars poured into the LNC, but I would have loved to see McCasland Fieldhouse be renovated and expanded to be the main basketball facility for OU, similar to Gallagher-Iba....build a new "shell" around the existing structure that looks similar.

Just my two-cents :-)

In the summer of 2012, the OU Athletics Department completed a major renovation of the Field House. The list of improvements included refurbished exterior brick, new windows and entry doors, a complete roof replacement and a remodel of the volleyball offices, locker and team rooms, renovation of main lobby, restrooms and concessions.

I would love to see basketball back on campus, but it ain't happening. Joe C is very pleased with LNC.

I'm aware of the recent renovations to the Field House. I just meant that it would have been cool if they were able to expand the seating capacity of the Field House in order to be able to accommodate the basketball programs.

I'm aware of the recent renovations to the Field House. I just meant that it would have been cool if they were able to expand the seating capacity of the Field House in order to be able to accommodate the basketball programs.

Based on the actual attendance, there wouldn't be THAT much expansion required. There just aren't that many fans attending the games regularly.

Based on the actual attendance, there wouldn't be THAT much expansion required. There just aren't that many fans attending the games regularly.

I think the field house holds under 5,000 and even with the poor attendance at OU games an arena would need to be at least 7,000-8,000. When OU men and women are doing well, they do draw those numbers consistently. I don't think expanding McCasland would make much sense. It's cool as a historic building for volleyball, wrestling, etc., but just isn't suited for modern basketball requirements. I would love to have seen Lloyd Noble torn down and a new stadium built on campus, but they've invested too much around it, unfortunately. A re-cladding of the building would be nice.