Cleveland State University || Campus Master Plan || University Development

University Development

Fenn Tower

Historic Buildings
Historic buildings at Cleveland State add architectural diversity to the campus and provide a tangible link to the City’s past. The reuse of buildings also reduces environmental impacts of demolition and new construction. Wherever feasible, the University will preserve historic buildings, either for University uses or private sector redevelopment.

FENN TOWER was constructed in 1930 as the National Town and Country Club. The building became part of Fenn College in 1937 and part of CSU in 1964, when Fenn College was incorporated into the new University. The 21-story Art Deco building is one of the University’s most distinctive buildings and its rehabilitation is a high priority. The planned use for this building is student housing.

The CORLETT BUILDING at 1935 Euclid Avenue has two reasonably intact historic facades--the front (south) facade and the east facade. The building was acquired by Cleveland State in 1973 and is currently leased to the Cleveland Board of Education as classroom swing space for high school students during the renovation of the City’s school buildings.

Mather Mansion

MATHER MANSION was built in 1910 as the home of local industrialist Samuel Mather. It is one of only three residences remaining from historic Euclid Avenue and the “Millionaire’s Row” era. The building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, has been rehabilitated by the University and is used for meetings and events.

HOWE MANSION, constructed in 1894, is another historic property that was part of “Millionaire’s Row.” The building was acquired by Cleveland State in 1982 and is currently being rehabilitated for use as the University’s Graduate College.

The DOAN ELECTRIC building was purchased by Cleveland State in 2001. The four-story brick building could be rehabilitated for university uses or it could be redeveloped as housing or office space by the private sector.

The former KINKOS BUILDING at 2112 Euclid Avenue was acquired by Cleveland State in 1997. A use has not been determined, but the building could be incorporated into a larger mixed-use development along Euclid Avenue between East 21st and East 22nd Street.

New Construction
There are several new buildings and building additions planned for the CSU campus:

Preferred location for the College of Education, Euclid Avenue west of Fenn Tower.

A COLLEGE OF EDUCATION will house all of the University’s education programs under one roof. Currently, the College of Education operates out of six different buildings on campus. The new building needs to be 130,000 square feet to accommodate classrooms, meeting space, administrative and faculty offices, and professional development. The preferred location for the new facility is on Euclid Avenue, immediately east of Fenn Tower. A new college in this location, combined with the new recreation center and the rehabilitation of Fenn Tower, will help to reinvigorate the eastern end of campus.

Relocating the ART GALLERY and THEATRE BUILDING (currently at Chester Avenue and East 23rd Street) to Euclid Avenue would increase its visibility and provide a better link to the cultural attractions at Playhouse Square. Extensive recent improvements to the gallery, however, may preclude the relocation of this facility for the foreseeable future. If the gallery/theatre complex remains in its current location, a 5,000 square foot entry addition to the eastern side of the building will increase the physical presence of this facility and make it more welcoming to students, faculty, staff, and the general public. A sculpture court adjacent to the gallery will also enhance its outward appeal and strengthen its value as an amenity for the proposed residential neighborhood north of Chester Avenue.

Preliminary plans have been developed to renovate and upgrade the CLEVELAND MARSHALL COLLEGE OF LAW. Improvements include a new Euclid Avenue entry and interior and exterior modifications to integrate the College of Law and Law Library so the complex will have a unified, contemporary appearance.

Plans are being developed for a new ADMINISTRATION CENTER on the south side of Euclid Avenue, immediately east of Howe Mansion. The 40,000 square foot facility will include offices for the President and administrative staff, as well as a 4,000 restaurant on the first floor with outdoor dining.

The location of the new RECREATION CENTER is immediately north of Woodling Gymnasium, on the site of the existing dome structure. The Recreation Center will be approximately 100,000 square feet with an adjacent parking structure. This location was selected because of its proximity to the existing gym and because is will establish a welcoming “front door” on Chester Avenue, reinforcing the East 24th Street spine and providing a valuable amenity to prospective residential development. The Chester Avenue frontage will also make the recreation center convenient for alumni and the general public who may wish to use the facility.

A new STUDENT UNION will provide a central location for student activities, including study space, dining, entertainment, offices for student organizations, and the campus bookstore. The Student Union will be an approximately 100,000 square foot complex. It may encompass an expanded and extensively rehabilitated University Center (UC) building and the first floor of the Main Classroom, or it could be a new facility on the site of the existing University Center building. The central, Euclid Avenue location is ideal for the Student Union, allowing easy access by the entire University community. The highly visible site will also attract the general public.

Potential expansion of the Convocation Center.

An expansion of the CONVOCATION CENTER will provide additional office space for Athletics Department staff who are currently divided between office space in the Convocation Center and Woodling Gymnasium. The expansion may also include an Athletics Hall of Fame, a CSU gift shop, and structured parking. The expansion will bring the Convocation Center up to the street edge, better integrating it into the surrounding neighborhood and establishing a welcoming new entry to the facility.

Parking
Currently, surface parking lots cover 25 acres of campus land. While ample parking is critical for a University with a large commuter population, surface parking is an inefficient use of land that spreads parking far from classrooms and other campus destinations. Converting surface parking into strategically located structures will allow people to park closer to their destinations and will free up land for new University and private sector development that will enhance the campus environment.

The plan proposes a net increase of 800 parking spaces while reducing the land devoted to surface parking by over 70%. New parking are proposed on the periphery of the campus, so that each structure is convenient to a specific part of campus. This dispersed parking arrangement is in contrast to the current situation where the central Main Parking Facility is the preferred parking location for the majority of faculty, students, and staff, while surface parking lots north of Chester Avenue stretch beyond a comfortable walking distance to most parts of campus.

Future expansion sites indicated in orange.

New parking structures will be designed to enliven the streets at the edges of the campus and enhance the campus architecturally. Active uses are encouraged for the ground level of all structures, including retail businesses and studio space for art students.

Future Expansion
CSU’s future growth can be accommodated on five sites within the campus core, totalling about 6 acres, and a 1.9-acre site north of Chester Avenue, between East 17th and East 18th Street, that is currently in private ownership. Further expansion can occur to the east along Chester Avenue, linking the main campus with the Cole Center for Continuing Education which is located 1-½ blocks east of the Innerbelt. The proposed Innerbelt reconfiguration could facilitate the University’s eastward expansion, particularly if the frontage road alternative (discussed on page 14) is implemented. Ideally, the frontage road system will narrow the actual and perceived gap created by the Innerbelt in its current configuration. Eliminating the Chester and Carnegie Avenue Innerbelt ramps as part of the frontage road alternative will free up additional land for University expansion.