Enhancing campus life and stimulating the local economy
In line with MiamiTHRIVE, university continues to assess how campuses will evolve
The university is in the very early phases of exploring potential projects on its Oxford campus to enhance campus life and stimulate the local economy, including building a new multipurpose arena and leasing space on campus for a new university-affiliated hotel.
The university’s current arena, Millett Hall, opened in 1968 and would require more than $80 million in renovations in the near term. In this early planning phase, the university has identified the need for a new arena that is centrally located on campus, within walking distance for students and to Uptown Oxford, can hold multiple events concurrently, and can better host university and city events, such as lectures, convocation, concerts, career fairs, and graduations. We are currently exploring options for design and opportunities for philanthropic funding as part of Miami’s billion dollar campaign, For love. For honor. For those who will.
The university also recently issued a request for proposals seeking a development team to design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain a university-affiliated full-service hotel with meeting space, high-quality food and beverage service, and fitness amenities on university-owned property. Though firms have expressed interest in the northwest corner of Cook Field, a final site has not been determined. If the university were to pursue this, it would expand Cook Field’s turfed playing surface to the south in order to preserve sufficient recreation space for students.
As Miami considers these and other potential projects through the strategic planning lens, it will prioritize those projects that benefit students and the community, and strengthen the local economy of its campuses. Miami looks forward to sharing updates on these and other MiamiTHRIVE initiatives as they develop.