BHDP Architecture and Cedarville University Celebrate Iconic Dome Installation for Bolthouse Academic Center
BHDP Architecture, Cedarville University, and Danis Construction celebrate a major milestone in the $40 million Bolthouse Academic Center project with the installation of an 84-foot dome that now crowns the nearly completed structure.
The new academic center is the final major project tied to the university’s record-setting $175 million One Thousand Days Transformed capital campaign.
The interior dome was installed on April 28, followed by the exterior dome on April 30, marking a symbolic “topping off” milestone in the construction process. Construction on the facility began in May 2025, and the university expects the center to open for the 2027–28 academic year.
“Seeing the dome lifted into place on the Bolthouse Academic Center is a powerful milestone for everyone involved in this project,” said Brian Darrow, Project Manager. “This moment reflects the shared vision, partnership, and commitment driving the future of Cedarville’s campus. As this project takes shape, it will inspire learning for many generations to come."
The 48,000-SF center will serve as a new academic hub for several programs, including the School of Education and Social Work, as well as the departments of psychology, history, English, literature, and modern languages. The three-story building will include classrooms, faculty offices, student collaboration areas, and a coffee and dining venue designed to encourage campus interaction.
The Bolthouse Academic Center is named after William Bolthouse, a long-term supporter and trustee emeritus who has served the university since 1996. Funding for the project was strengthened by a $15 million anonymous donation made in October 2024, one of the largest gifts in university history.
The new academic center will also include a commemorative brick patio, where donors and supporters can sponsor engraved bricks honoring teachers, mentors, loved ones, or their own connection to the university.
BHDP also partnered with Cedarville University to design the Scharnberg Business and Communication Center and the Callan Athletic and Academic Expansion.
See additional news coverage in the Dayton Business Journal, WDTN, and WHIO.
