NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The University of Oklahoma has received a transformative $10 million gift from the McCasland Foundation to support the construction of two new first-year residence halls on the former Adams Center site. In honor of this gift, the north hall will be named McCasland Hall.
“The McCasland Foundation has been an incredible partner to OU for generations,” said OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. “From the McCasland Field House to their generous contributions to several academic areas, the McCasland family has made a meaningful impact across the university. With this latest gift, our students will gain a best-in-class living environment that enhances their OU experience from day one, setting the stage for lifelong connections and future achievements.”
Since its establishment in 1952, the McCasland Foundation has generously supported higher education, social services and community enhancement. In 2001, the foundation made a significant donation to name OU’s Howard McCasland Field House, a tribute to Thomas Howard McCasland, a distinguished OU alumnus and athlete who earned the OU Letzeiser medal and excelled as a two-sport athlete, serving as captain of the 1916 basketball team and a valuable football team member.
The new residence halls will feature multiple lounges, study spaces, music rooms, storm shelters and community spaces that are designed to foster a welcoming and close-knit environment for approximately 550 students. The north hall is expected to open in fall 2025, with the south hall following in fall 2026.
This new $10 million gift also serves to honor Howard’s children, Tom McCasland Jr. and Mary Frances McCasland Maurer Michaelis, proud OU graduates. By naming the new residence hall, the McCasland Foundation further cements the family's enduring legacy within the university community.
The new residence halls come at a time of increased enrollment at OU. When the plan for new student housing was originally drafted during fiscal year 2021, OU officials expected a student population growth rate of 1% per year. Since that time, the size of OU’s freshman classes has increased by approximately 20%. This August, OU welcomed 5,593 freshmen, the university’s largest freshman class ever.
“Research shows that first-year students who live on campus not only achieve greater academic success but also feel more connected to their peers and the broader university community,” said Jeff Blahnik, vice president for the division of enrollment management and chief enrollment officer at OU. “Our new residence halls are thoughtfully designed to create a welcoming, small community atmosphere where new students can truly feel at home. Thanks to the generous support of the McCasland Foundation, we are able to bring this vision to life and provide an enriching environment for our students.”
Adams Center demolition began in May 2023. Adams was the first and oldest of the three residence towers on campus, named for K.S. “Boots” Adams, who was the former board of directors’ chair for Phillips Petroleum Co. The original Adams Center had a unique design that featured four separate towers, one of which was named McCasland Tower in honor of the McCasland Foundation’s support.
Future phases of the housing master plan will eventually replace Walker and Couch buildings.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. For more information about the university, visit www.ou.edu.
About the OU Foundation
The University of Oklahoma Foundation is an independent charitable organization that facilitates and manages philanthropic gifts to support the University of Oklahoma. With a culture of integrity, skill and persistence, we align the passions of donors and our alumni with the indelible mission of the University of Oklahoma.
When University of Oklahoma alumna Stephenie Starkey saw her son’s high school football team struggle year after year, she often thought of one name: Baker Mayfield. Like her son’s team, the Space Coast Vipers, Mayfield – a 2017 OU alum – had faced constant doubt about his football abilities.
The University of Oklahoma has received a transformative $10 million gift from the McCasland Foundation to support the construction of two new first-year residence halls on the former Adams Center site. In honor of this gift, the north hall will be named McCasland Hall.
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