KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan University marked a milestone in its $110 million Golden Oaks Residence Halls project this week with a celebratory ceremony that let students leave their mark — quite literally — on the campus’s future.
As part of the topping-off tradition, students were invited to sign their names on the final structural panel of the building before it was lifted into place. The symbolic gesture turned into a moment of pride and legacy for many WMU students.
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“If my kids come here, if my family members come here — I can be like ‘oh! My name is right there!’ You know what I’m saying? It’s pretty dope,” said WMU student Andre Millering.
“I love the fact that I’m leaving my mark on this campus,” added WMU student Piya Bhatt.
For Nelson Paulino, a student from the Dominican Republic and the first in his family to attend Western, the moment was deeply personal.
“I was very happy to be able to sign the panel. It’s simply a testament to God’s faithfulness, it’s a miracle I’m here,” Paulino said.
“I was very proud to be able to sign my family’s name, with my last name on it.”
The Golden Oaks Residence Halls are being built with mass timber construction, a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. University officials said the project is not only the largest of its kind in Michigan but could also rank among the largest mass timber residence halls in the nation.
“It’s the largest mass timber project in the state, and we believe it’s the largest residence hall project going on certainly in the state, and possibly nationwide,” said Barry Olson, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs.
Mass timber is praised for its environmental benefits, faster construction timelines, and its warmer, natural aesthetic compared to traditional student housing.
Olson explained that students will immediately notice the difference when they step into the building:
“In a typical residence room right now, you’d see a lot of cinderblock. For this building, you’ll see wood above you. You’ll see wood from side to side. Which is really a different experience.”
WMU President Russ Kavalhuna joined students in signing the final board before it was hoisted to the top of the structure, symbolizing not just the end of a construction phase but also the beginning of a new chapter for the campus community.
The Golden Oaks Residence Halls are scheduled for completion in fall 2026, and when the doors finally open, students will move into a building that already carries their names and stories.
Until then, their signatures on the final beam stand as a promise — that the next generation of Broncos will not only live in the halls but also inherit a legacy already written into its structure.
Originally reported by Julie Dunmire in Fox 17 West Michigan.
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