The current and future locations of the LGBT Center are shown on these maps of the second and third floors of Baker University Center.

Ohio University’s LGBT Center will soon be relocated to a larger space within Baker Center to accommodate the needs of the Center’s growing footprint on campus. Currently located in an 800 square foot space on the third floor of Baker, the center will move to a renovated space on the second floor of Baker next to the Multicultural Center. The new space will be about 1,200 square feet and will better serve the needs of the ever-growing center.

“We are actively finding ways to provide increased resources to our centers within the Division for Diversity and Inclusion to better allow for growth and expansion across the institution,” said Dr. Gigi Secuban, Vice President for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. “Taking these steps to relocate the LGBT Center is one way can help expand the Center’s reach on our campus. By providing a bigger space and one that is more accessible for students to visit, we hope the center will foster increased engagement across the campus community.”

The new space, designed by University Planning, will renovate a portion of the Gallery space on the second floor of Baker to provide open space for the LGBT Center.  The University will provide many additional opportunities across campus for augmented community art spaces that embrace and celebrate diversity, including the new art installation on the second floor of Baker Center, as well as space in Trisolini Gallery.

When looking at the best space to relocate the LGBT Center, many factors were taken into consideration, such as being located at a core part of campus for both an active presence and welcoming space, having the opportunity to have a private entranceway and assuring that the Center’s needs were met related to space allocation.   

“Both centers have growing footprints, so to find a space that fits both their needs can be a challenge,” said Dr. Winsome Chunnu-Brayda, Director of the Multicultural Center. “I think what works about this particular space is that in looking at the big picture, this allows both groups to own their individual identities while still being housed in a location that allows for collaborations with people different from them.”