ORU Celebrates Grand Opening of Daystar Dining Hall and Residence Halls

The $45 million development adds expanded dining, new retail options, student housing, and a signature campus courtyard.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 14, 2026-Oral Roberts University (ORU) celebrated the grand opening of the Daystar Dining Hall and new residence halls, an 83,000-square-foot development designed to strengthen campus community and support ORU's continued enrollment growth. Located east of the J.D. McKean Library and the Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center, the new facility brings dining, student housing, and outdoor gathering spaces together in one connected campus destination. This project completes a major portion of ORU's Phase II Whole Leaders for the Whole World campus expansion.

"The Daystar Dining Hall and these new residence halls represent far more than new buildings; they represent our commitment to the whole person-spirit, mind, and body," said ORU President Dr. William M. Wilson. "Around shared tables and within these residential communities, students will form meaningful relationships, grow in faith, and create memories that will shape their lives for years to come. We give thanks to God and are deeply grateful to the Daystar Television Network, all of our generous donors, construction partners, and dedicated project teams who helped bring this extraordinary vision to life."

The development features a dining hall of just over 30,000 square feet, seating approximately 800 inside and another 200 outdoor seats, providing space for approximately 1,000 guests across the facility and adjoining terraces. A mezzanine offers additional dining space, while six dining stations expand the variety and flexibility available to students. Separate Chick-fil-A and Pei Wei retail locations operate independently from the main dining hall.

A 9,090-square-foot commercial kitchen supports the dining operation and includes service, loading, and administrative areas. Exterior finishes visually connect the kitchen with the dining hall and residence towers, giving the development a cohesive architectural identity.

(Left to right) Joe Sims, ORU Senior Director of New Student Relations; Madison Johnston, District Director for U.S. Congressman Kevin Hern; Quinton Gray, Tulsa County Field Representative for U.S. Senator James Lankford; Krystal Reyes, Deputy Mayor, City of Tulsa; Dr. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, ORU Provost; Allison Walden, Senior VP, Resource Dev., Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce; Anthony Archie, Tulsa City Council, District 2; Joe Dobbins, ORU Board Chair; Dr. William Wilson, President of ORU; Mrs. Lisa Wilson, ORU First Lady; Rachel Lamb Brown, Daystar Television Network; Ray Tullius, Mabee Foundation; ORU Trustees: Erich Lau, Ariane Schmidt, Gary Crouch, and Brent Van Norman.

Daystar Executive Rachel Lamb Brown shared these sentiments, "Today, I'm honored to dedicate the Daystar Dining Hall on behalf of my family. My dad came from incredibly humble beginnings. He didn't have a family legacy of television or ministry. What he had was a Word from God, a dream in his heart, and the faith to believe that if God said it, somehow God would make a way. My parents understood that legacy isn't simply what you build in your lifetime. It's what continues to build long after you're gone. Our hope is for every ORU student to leave an eternal legacy, one that points to the one that made all of this possible-Jesus Christ."

Adjoining the Dining Hall are the four-story residence towers, one for men and one for women. Together, the towers provide over 50,000 square feet of housing with 216 student beds and two residence director apartments. The arrangement creates a visual connection among dining, residential life, and the surrounding campus while preserving distinct residential communities.

"I am thrilled to see the new additions to ORU's campus, which will enhance the student experience and strengthen the University's legacy for generations to come," said Congressman Kevin Hern (OK-01). "For over 60 years, ORU has been a leader in the academic and spiritual development of its students, and these investments reflect the University's continued commitment to providing a holistic education rooted in faith, opportunity, and academic excellence."

The adjoining 4.3-acre courtyard will link the Daystar Dining and Residence Halls with the J.D. McKean Library and the Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center. A 255-linear-foot tiered water feature, or rill, begins at the dining hall terrace and flows into a courtyard pool aligned with ORU's iconic Healing Hands (a.k.a. the Praying Hands). The courtyard also includes a central lawn, trees representing regions around the world, pedestrian pathways, outdoor seating, and an amphitheater. Together, these features create new places for students to dine, study, connect, worship, and participate in campus events.

"The new residence halls and Daystar Dining Hall reflect the University's ongoing commitment to creating a vibrant, Spirit-empowered campus where students can thrive," said Lori Cook, Vice President for Student Life. "These spaces will bring students together to connect, engage, and build friendships while creating meaningful experiences and memories that will last a lifetime."

Interior of Daystar Dining Hall

Project at a Glance

• Total development: Approximately 83,000 gross square feet
• Project budget: $45 million, which is debt-free
• Dining hall: Just over 30,000 square feet; one-and-a-half
• Dining capacity: Approximately 1,000 total
• Food options: Six dining stations, plus Chick-fil-A, and Pei Wei
• Commercial kitchen: 9,090 square feet
• Student housing: Separate four-story men's and women's towers; 216 beds and two residence director apartments
• Courtyard: 4.3 acres with a 255-linear-foot tiered water feature, central lawn, international trees, pathways, and amphitheater

Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor's level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. In 2024, the Carnegie Foundation recognized ORU with a "Leadership for Public Purpose" award, a distinction earned by only 25 universities nationwide. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 176 nations in the last 7 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.