On Campus
Muskingum University Receives Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits
Muskingum University’s Quad Center project is one of 24 projects approved for the Ohio Department of Development’s state historic preservation tax credits. It is the only project in southeastern Ohio.
“The state historic tax credits encourage investment into projects renovating historic structures,” said Vice President for Finance and Operations Philip Laube. “Renovating the Quad Center, which provides direct services to our students, will increase the utilization of this facility.”
The Quad Center project focuses on revitalizing the facility to better serve the campus community and will be completed in two phases.
The first phase will increase mobility accessibility to the facility. The renovations include the addition of an elevator that will allow access to all levels of the building. The lower level of the facility, which contains the Barnes & Noble College Bookstore and the Bait Shop Café, will also be renovated to increase accessibility to those spaces, including a fully accessible restroom. Portions of Phase 1 are already completed, and the remaining portion of Phase 1 will be fully operational this winter.
Phase 2 will include renovations to create space for the Impact Center which will provide comprehensive career preparation for students from their first day on campus through graduation and beyond. The Center will focus on integrating hands-on career preparation into every academic program and developing robust partnerships with business, industry and non-profits in Southeast Ohio and across the state. Phase 2 will be completed in 2023.
“Increasing accessibility throughout the Muskingum University campus continues to be a priority,” said President Susan Hasseler. “I am grateful to the Ohio Department of Development for approving this historic preservation tax credit, which will allow the University to make the Quad Center fully accessible to all users.”
The Quad Center project earned a $982,000 tax credit. The renovation project, which cost $3.8 million for design and construction, is being funded through several sources, including a federal Title III Strengthening Institutions grant from the US Department of Education and a partnership with Aramark, the University’s dining service provider. The University also is partnering with outside developers and supporters for the balance of the project cost. The developers will receive the tax credits as part of their investment.
According to the Department of Development, “the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program provides a tax credit to leverage the private redevelopment of historic buildings. The program is highly competitive and receives applications bi-annually in March and September.”
