Miller Hall will be demolished over Christmas break due to the costs and risks of renovating a building as old as Miller.

The Ashland University Cabinet voted unanimously to demolish the building, according to a campus communication email from President Dr. Fred Finks.

“This was not an easy decision,” he said in the email.

The cabinet weighed its options for two years before determining that the building needed to be demolished. According to the email from Finks, renovating Miller Hall would cost between $6-8 million, while just keeping the building open this winter would cost nearly $200,000 due to the condition of the roof, foundation and heating system.

“We learned a major lesson on the renovation of Kettering with the added cost, and we still have areas of the old building needing renovation,” Finks said in the email, adding that there are often unforeseen issues when renovating old buildings.

The demolition of Miller Hall would also free up space along the Academic Corridor, where AU’s strategic plan calls for the eventual construction of a new arts and humanities building. Currently, arts and humanities classes are spread across campus instead of united in one building like many of the colleges.

Finks also addressed the issue of Miller’s historical value in the campus communication email.

“There is a historical sentiment with Miller as the oldest building on campus,” he said. “We intend to keep the keystone, cupola (if salvageable) and other pieces that could be used in a new building on that site.”

The cabinet had unanimous support from the Board of Trustees Finance and Facilities Committee, Finks said.