UC Board of Trustees approves $12 million for building design phase for new welcome gateway

Right now it’s a grassy field with freshly-paved walkways and a few starter trees. 

But the site near the corner of Calhoun Street and Clifton Avenue will be transformed into a Welcome Gateway Building at UC’s Uptown campus. The Board of Trustees approved $12 million at its Feb. 24 meeting for the design phase of the new structure.

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports the proposed building is bound for the former College of Law building site, which was demolished and cleared in 2024 following the college’s move in late 2022 to its current home at 2925 Campus Green Drive.

The Welcome Gateway Building, an approximately 200,000-gross-square-foot facility will integrate academic, cultural, and public-facing functions within a single landmark location for the UC campus.

It will offer several advantages:

• First stop for prospective students, new faculty and alumni
• House a curated art gallery and university history
• Include a bookstore, cafe and alumni lounge
• Accommodate a 1,200-seat auditorium
• Provide approximately 400 parking spaces underground will be available
• Facilities for digital media and music practice rooms available

• Offer modern interactive classrooms and large performance theater

“The University of Cincinnati has an opportunity to create a Welcome Gateway Building that supports the UC’s top U.S. national research university ranking,” according to a resolution the board approved. “It will serve as a hub for dynamic, active and engaging teaching and learning that melds academic disciplines, technology and the arts to become a highly visible symbol of the University of Cincinnati’s commitment to innovation and student success.”

The full story is available on the Courier’s website.