Headington Hall
$75 million: estimated cost of the project
1,125,000: approximate square feet of steel in the building
230,000: total square footage
14,500: cubic yards of concrete poured
517: tons of rebar used in the building’s design
380: total student population
180: student athletes population
Source: Press release
The first batch of students to live in OU’s new residence hall moved their things into the almost $75 million building Sunday.
While the residents who moved in over the weekend were all athletes, Headington Hall is set to hold 380 students, and only 180, or 47 percent, of those will be student athletes.
The building was built with money from private donations from donors like former athletes Tim Headington, for whom the building is named, Adrian Peterson and Sam Bradford.
By intention, there will always be a majority of non-student athletes living in the new residence hall and there will be no efforts to segregate the two groups, said Kelly Damphousse, the hall’s Faculty-in-Residence.
“We’re trying to treat all of them as they are. They’re students at the University of Oklahoma living in Headington Hall,” he said.
The five-story building includes an entertainment room with a 90-inch television and rows of leather lounge chairs, a game room to be filled with pool tables and ping-pong tables, as well as high-tech video gaming stations.
“[The entertainment room] is probably going to be the most popular room in the entire building,” said Bryan Hinnen, director of operations for Headington Hall.
The TV can be used to watch four different feeds at one time, Hinnen said.
“What that means is you can watch four games during March Madness, basically,” he said.
In addition to those amenities, the residence hall contains a 90-seat movie theatre, which officials for the Athletic Department hope can double as a classroom or meeting space, Hinnen said.
“This is fairly unique space for most residence halls. The majority that I’ve worked in…have [had] basements converted with old sofas that they found on Craigslist or something,” he said.
Headington Hall’s space doesn’t have old sofas, instead it’s equipped with stair-step seating and a screen that can receive a cable stream and also the stadium stream.
Hinnen hopes the space will be used to house watch parties during away games, or a place to hold team meetings. As well, the chairs have desks attached, meaning the room could be used to hold seminar classes, he said.
Students in the hall will be staying in apartment-style units with a living space and a small kitchen. They have the option of staying in two or four bedroom suites.
Coming from his old room in the Bud Wilkinson House, Oklahoma football sophomore wide receiver Sterling Shepard said he was happy with his new room and the prospect of having his own bathroom and bedroom.
“The bathroom is definitely the best thing. You get your own space. You don’t have to wait on one guy to take a shower,” he said.
The amenities in Headington Hall — including the apartment style units — are part of the reason Shepard thinks Headington Hall will be big determining factor for new recruits, he said.
“[Headington Hall is] a real big boost. That’s what student athletes look for. They look for a good facility,” Shepard said. “It doesn’t get much better than this.”
Per semester, the cost per room for a two bedroom, two bath unit housing four residents is $3,250. If you didn’t want to share a bedroom, but could share a bathroom, the cost of a four bedroom, two bath unit meant for four people is $3,500, according to the SoonerSports website.
The most expensive floor plan costs $5,000 a semester, and have two bedrooms and two bathrooms. They house two people, according to the website.
As well, students in the residence hall have to pay for a meal plan, which ranges from $1,880 for 12 meals a week in the Wagner Dining Hall, to $2,000 for 15 meals a week in the dining hall, according to the website.
Choosing the cheapest room and board options, a semester at Headington Hall will cost $5,130, 15 percent more than the cost of living in the suite-style units in Adams, Couch and Walker Centers.
Headington Hall — Housing
A Unit (two bedroom, two bath, two residents in single rooms): $5,000
B Unit (four bedroom, two bath, four residents): $3,500
C Unit (two bedroom, two bath, two residents per room): $3,250
Headington Hall — Board
12 meals per week: $1,880
15 meals per week: $2,000
Adams, Couch and Walker Center — Housing and Board
Double: $4,359
Single: $5,750
Cate Center and David L. Boren Hall — Housing and Board
Double: $3,961
Single: $4,949
