University Housing invites the campus community to a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official reopening of Justice Robert Sharp Bean Hall and the conclusion of its three-year renovation.

The event will be Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m. in the Justice Bean Learning Commons.

UO President Michael H. Schill, among others, will speak briefly. The common area will be open for informal tours, and light refreshments will be served.

The renovation project was initiated in 2016 and undertaken in two phases, east and west, with the west phase completed in 2018 and the east phase completed this year.

Originally built in 1960-63, Justice Bean Hall and all of its systems were dramatically refreshed, inside and out, at a total renovation cost of $47 million.

What was formerly an industrial catering kitchen was redeveloped to serve as a large common area for five academic residential communities: Carnegie Global Ethics, Environmental Leaders, Health Sciences, Honors College and Latinx Scholars.

The hall is comprised of 716 beds. It also has two community kitchens and space dedicated to tutoring sessions, academic advising and office hours for faculty fellows.

Formerly referred to simply as Bean Hall, University Housing is honoring the full building name, Justice Robert Sharp Bean Hall, named after Robert Sharp Bean, 16th chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.