The construction of Veritas Hall heralds the fact that we are achieving the vision established for this campus.”

Dennis Tyner | OUAZ president

Work is going full steam on Veritas Hall, the new Ottawa University Arizona residence hall building on the campus next to City Hall.

On Oct. 8, OUAZ celebrated the groundbreaking of the building, a five-story, podium-style structure that will have two wings connected by a central lobby. It will house students, classrooms and offices.

Ottawa University Chancellor Dr. William Tsutsui was among those who attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

“For this name, we turned for inspiration to the crest of Ottawa University — and specifically to the motto inscribed on that crest, Veritas Vos Liberabit — ‘The truth will set you free,’” Tsutsui told the crowd. “Despite the Latin, these are not the words of a great Roman thinker but come, of course, from the New Testament. Veritas, the truth, and the liberating potential — the power — that flows forth from it, are critically important to us at Ottawa University, not just as an academic institution but also as a faith-based one.

“As a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry, and as an institution dedicated to providing our students with a rigorous education and advancing knowledge academically, Ottawa University must, and will, continue to seek the truth and to speak the truth.”

OUAZ President Dennis Tyner discussed the rapid growth of the Surprise campus to the crowd, which included city of Surprise leaders.

“The construction of Veritas Hall heralds the fact that we are achieving the vision established for this campus,” Tyner said. “With enrollment moving quickly from 630 students to our current 900, it was clear we needed to add another residence hall in short order. Veritas Hall will uniquely meet the continuing needs of OUAZ students and staff, both in design and function, and we are thrilled that construction is underway.”

OUAZ and the city of Surprise share campus land and facilities and gather together for lunch and hear from inspirational speakers every Wednesday.

Several dignitaries in attendance signed a beam that will be a part of the build and students signed a piece of sheet metal that will be displayed there.

Veritas Hall is expected to be completed in time to welcome new students next fall.