Oxley Hall

Originally constructed in 1908 as the first women’s dormitory on campus, Oxley Hall was designed in the English Renaissance style that complemented the Collegiate Gothic traditions of the time. After serving residential and administrative functions for more than a century, the building was recently transformed to house Ohio State’s Department of Linguistics.

The renovation balanced historic preservation with the department’s highly specific programmatic needs. Exterior work included restoration of the brick and stone façade, clay tile roof, and surrounding terraces and stone retaining walls. Inside, new mechanical systems, lighting, and finishes brought the building up to contemporary standards. Soundproofing measures were carefully integrated into classrooms and offices—an especially complex task within the 100-year-old wood frame structure and its tight floor-to-floor heights. The result is a revitalized facility that honors Oxley Hall’s legacy while supporting the future of linguistic research and study.