Ohio University is a public university located in Athens, Ohio that is situated on a 1,800 acre (7.3 km²) campus. Founded in 1804, it is the oldest college in Ohio, first in the Northwest Territory, and ninth oldest public university in the United States. It is also one of the largest universities located in Appalachia.

History

Baker University Center

The newly constructed John Calhoun Baker Center (the name having been taken from the original 'Baker Center' on University Dr.) opened in January, 2007. The $65 million dollar student center features Georgian-style architecture and expansive windows throughout the building that offer spectacular views of campus and allow a great deal of natural light to enter. In contrast to the exterior's red brick, and white columns, the interior has a more contemporary style. The interior has high ceilings, ergonomic furniture and a color scheme of sage, plum and mocha.

The six-story student center contains a large food court (West 82), a fine dining restaurant (Latitude 39), a ballroom, student shop (bobcat essentials), coffee shop (the front room), theater, many study areas, several computer labs, administrative offices, and other amenities connected by three sets of escalators that gives it very much a mall feel.

The "Main Street effect" is something planners prepared for from the start – by incorporating an escalator system (the only one in Athens County) to carry people through the atrium that cuts through the building and connects the upper and lower portions of the campus. This design feature earned the facility mention in a 2006 Association of College Unions International book as a best practice Fact: date=October 2007.

In 2007, Baker Center won two Golden Trowel awards from the International Masonry Institute, including the grand prize of Best Project in Ohio for its terrazzo floor art, and another prize for its distinctive interior masonry features. In 2008, the Baker was also awarded the grand-prize with honors from Learning by Design, and organization that recognized excellence in educational facilities, as well as the Facility Design Award from the Association of College Unions International, which annually distinguished excellence in the design of student unions and other student-centered building on college campuses.

The various university businesses inside are struggling to make money due to poor marketing and high prices. However, the administration has issued a new plan to have a "flex" meal plan to let students spend meals there.

Upon the center's grand opening, local newspapers' front pages were filled with pictures of the grand world map on the floor of the Court St. entrance because the country of Iraq was non-existent. It was shown as sea. Especially because many friends and family members of students were serving in Iraq at the time, a number of veteran students themselves were enrolled at Ohio University, and on top of the already general 'mis-use of funds' opinion which surrounded the center up to its opening, this mysterious deletion of Iraq was a further point of ridicule and criticism for 'New Baker'.