OHIO students, community invited to attend McDavis Hall beam signing ceremony

Those across the Ohio University community will have an opportunity to forever etch their name in a piece of OHIO history during a ceremonial beam signing event that will take place on Thursday, April 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the South Beach Lawn (located directly in front of Brown, Pickering, Crawford and Mackinnon Halls).

This special event will recognize and celebrate the ongoing construction progress of Roderick J. McDavis Residence Hall, which is currently slated to open on OHIO’s Athens Campus in August 2026. In addition to participating in the beam signing, those in attendance will be invited to enjoy games, music, food and drawings for various prizes.

McDavis Hall, which will be OHIO’s newest and largest residence hall upon completion, is named after President Roderick J. McDavis, who began his tenure in 2004 as the University's first African American president and only the second alumnus to lead the institution in its 211-year history. Dr. McDavis was transformative during his 13 years of service as OHIO’s 20th president, championing numerous initiatives that reshaped the University’s approach to education and community engagement.

To learn more about McDavis Hall, visit: ohio.edu/housing/master-plan.