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Demolition in progress to make way for Tiffin University's Center for Innovation and Learning

Tiffin University has owned the houses for years, knowing the location was the best option for future growth.

TIFFIN, Ohio — With the warmer weather comes an early start to a big construction project at Tiffin University.

Demolition was completed this week on five houses owned by Tiffin University along Sandusky Street, with two more set to be razed at the end of the spring semester. The houses were previously used as student housing.

The vacated lot will soon be the location of Tiffin University's Center for Innovation and Learning, which will feature 14 new classrooms outfitted with the latest in education technology, smart boards and AI access.

"The way we learn today is very different from the way we learned in the past," Tiffin University President Lillian Schumacher said. "And it is our responsibility, as far as I'm concerned, to meet students where they are and really bring that learning to life for them."

The new 30,000-square-foot academic building will offer relief for the university, as classroom space has become a premium on campus. For students, it will offer even more.

"Providing an opportunity for students to bring their ideas, their concepts to life, and obviously be able to learn in 21st-century ways with technology and even some artificial intelligence opportunities," Schumacher said.

Joel Wilkins, vice president for Tiffin University's Strategic Financial Administration & Initiatives said the university has owned these Sandusky Street homes for years, knowing it was the most logical place for future growth.

"We always knew down the road as we grow, and as we continue to grow here, that that land and eventually those houses would eventually come down, and a classroom has kind of always been on the horizon," Wilkins said.

Credit: Tiffin University
The five homes on Sandusky Street and two on Clay Street have been owned by Tiffin University for years and were previously used as student housing.

Along with the new technology and classroom space, the new building will also host the Center for Entrepreneurship, where students and faculty will be able to collaborate with members of the Tiffin community on potential business ventures.

"Bringing the community together with our students to vet ideas, to develop ideas for businesses, for organizations that will be part of this environment as well," Schumacher said.

Tiffin University's goal is to host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Center for Innovation and Learning at some point in late spring, with construction wrapping up and the building being ready for faculty and students in fall 2025.

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