Dedicating Future Bolthouse Academic Center
Construction of the $35 million Bolthouse Academic Center was originally scheduled to begin in 2027. However, thanks to God’s provision and the generosity of donors — most notably a $15 million anonymous gift — the project is moving forward ahead of schedule.
Cedarville University faculty and staff will gather on Friday, Aug. 8, at noon to give thanks for God’s provision in making the Bolthouse Academic Center a reality. The prayer and celebration gathering will take place at the construction site of the new facility, which is expected to open in August 2027. The facility will be located prominently along State Route 72.
Dr. Thomas White, president of Cedarville University, and Dr. Tom Mach, vice president for academics, will offer reflections during the gathering. Prayers will be led by Dr. Kevin Jones, dean of the School of Education and Social Work, and Dr. Mark Caleb Smith, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities — two schools that will be housed in the new facility.
Named in honor of long-time trustee emeritus William Bolthouse, the 47,820-square-foot Georgian-style facility will feature three floors of classrooms, student collaboration spaces, a coffee and dining venue and faculty offices for the School of Education and Social Work and departments of English, literature and modern languages, history and government, psychology and social work. A defining architectural feature will be an 84-foot dome rising above Cedarville’s Main Street.
The academic center is the final major project of the historic : The Campaign for Cedarville, which has already funded campus expansions including the Scharnberg Business and Communication Center, the Civil Engineering Building and several residence halls. The campaign will officially conclude during homecoming this October.
A key feature of the new facility will be a commemorative brick patio. For a gift of $100 or $250, individuals can engraved with their own name or that of a teacher, mentor or loved one whose life reflects God’s transforming power. These bricks will form a permanent tribute to lives changed through Cedarville’s mission of academic excellence and Kingdom service.
“This building will be much more than bricks and mortar,” said White. “It will be a space where faculty intentionally disciple students, where conversations are shaped by biblical truth and where young men and women are equipped to boldly engage the culture for Christ. The Bolthouse Academic Center will stand as a daily reminder of our calling to transform lives through excellent, Christ-centered education.”
Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 6,384 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by the Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at .