College of Wooster reopens historic Douglass Hall after $18.5 million renovation

The College of Wooster celebrated the reopening of Douglass Hall this fall with the college board of trustees, project partners and Wooster community officials. Built on Wayne Avenue in 1929, the renovated building will include restored spaces like the natural woodwork in the first-floor lounge, full accessibility with a new elevator and suite-style living spaces increasing its capacity.

“Since it opened its doors in 1929, Douglass Hall has been the home for generations of Wooster students and that special place where creative ideas and lifelong friendships are formed and thrive,” President Anne McCall said, thanking BSHM Architects, Bogner Construction Company, and the college facilities teams and staff who supported the completion of the project.

She also noted the intergenerational love she sees for the college, telling the story of the building’s namesake and initial donor, Elisha P. Douglass, Class of 1877, Wooster’s sixth graduating class.

“He cultivated this idea that people should be surrounded by beauty and that it would influence their experience and their own self-development,” she said. “Each time we're working on renovating a space, enhancing community life is at the heart of it.”

The $18.5 million renovation included a new, fully accessible entrance on the north side of the building with an elevator placed on the exterior to preserve the historic beauty inside. About 60 first-year students and 67 returning students made their homes in the building this fall.

On the top floor, construction added suite-style living spaces with dormer windows, bringing in natural light and showcasing views of the residential quad and Wooster’s trees. Further, the redesigned space increased the capacity of the building to 129 students, up from 109.

Brian Bogner, president of the Bogner Corporation, explained how construction crews fully restored the natural woodwork of the first-floor lounge and used a dry ice process, rather than abrasive cleaning tools, to expose original brick in the stairwells, highlighting archways and beautifying the traditional character of the building.

The lower level also features two new soundproof rooms that can be used as study or practice spaces where musicians can set the acoustics of the room to match different performance spaces, from a recital hall to a cathedral or arena, and record and play back their performance.

Addressing infrastructural needs in the building including air-conditioning, the use of environmentally friendly materials and new windows created an overall energy savings of 30% in the building.

At the ceremony Johnathon Reynolds, senior director of student life, residence life and community standards, expressed his gratitude for the investment the building represents in Wooster students.

“This building is a commitment to student well-being, growth and success,” Reynolds said. “As student populations change, so does their desire for updated buildings. We are committed to reviewing and updating spaces across campus and appreciate the support of our past students and stakeholders in continuing this work.”