The Columbus Chapter of the American Institute of Architects recognizes locally designed architecture with their annual Design Awards. This year’s awards program boasts a total of seven winners; three honor awards and four merit awards. More information about all seven developments and projects can be found below.
Honor Awards (Projects that have been completed)
Orange Branch Library, Delaware, Ohio
Delaware County District Library, Owner
MKC Associates Inc., Architect of Record
Photography by Feinknopf Photography
The new Orange Branch of the Delaware County District Library is a 33,600-square-foot, state-of-the-art library intended to serve Delaware County’s growing population. This new library, as an important gathering place within the community, has the opportunity to become a landmark building in this growing township. The design team endeavored to create a sense of permanence and pride for the community, while providing a warm inviting atmosphere.
Some of the special building spaces featured include a large glass-enclosed quiet study room with a fireplace, community meeting room, cafe, large children’s area, dedicated storytime room, teen space separated with a glass garage door, self service area for hold pickup and checkout, drive-up and book drop service windows, and outreach services, including a bookmobile garage.
The Ohio State University Cunz Hall Renovation, Columbus
The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Owner
Jonathan Barnes Architecture and Design, Design Architect
Photography by Feinknopf Photography
Cunz Hall, a four-story, ‘60s era, Brutalist style structure on the campus of The Ohio State University, has been extensively renovated as the new LEED home of the College of Public Health, with offices, classrooms and bioscience labs. The renovations retained the concrete structure and much of the signature Brutalist precast concrete panel exteriors, while improving upon a number of deficiencies, including a lack of interior day-lighting and a confusing interior circulation.
The singular move of creating a new north-south orientation led to the resolution of these deficiencies. Precast panels at the north façade were replaced with a new glass curtain wall and glass canopy above the new north entry. On the south façade, a 40-foot deep slot was carved into the building above the second floor with a skylight above the south entry and an atrium just behind the slot connecting the second and third floors.
Julka Hall, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland State University, Owner
NBBJ, Design Architect
Photography by Benjamin Benschneider
Occupying a highly visible site, Julka Hall at Cleveland State University (CSU) brings together eight different departments on campus. Its three occupied floors respond to the unique site conditions by forming exterior garden and plaza spaces that are accessible by both the campus and the city. The project anchors CSU’s southeast corner of campus and acts simultaneously as a gateway to the University, and a supporting element of the urban fabric.
The College of Education and Human Services’ student body includes both undergraduate and graduate students, but is weighted toward graduate education. As such, its “typical student” is a 31-year-old female who arrives at 4:30 pm and takes classes in the evening after having taught all day. Undergraduate education and nursing students follow a more traditional class schedule and will utilize the building throughout the day. Three main entrances welcome the building’s three distinct users: campus residents, commuting students and the surrounding community. The architectural form of the new building is inspired by the meaningful connections between these entry points.
Merit Awards – Architecture Awards (Projects that have been completed)
Miami Valley Hospital Heart and Orthopedic Center, Dayton, Ohio
Miami Valley Hospital, owner
NBBJ, Design Architect
Photography by Benjamin Benschneider
The Miami Valley Hospital Heart and orthopedic Center redefines the hospital’s identity within the region by transforming the way the campus is experienced by patients, staff, and the Dayton community. It is more than just a new building, it is a catalyst for the transformation of the Miami Valley campus. This first step of renewal opens the campus interior with a welcoming gesture to the public and softens the campus center with green space. The existing central courtyard, which was congested with vehicular traffic, has been significantly increased in area and developed into a pedestrian friendly park. Vehicles are removed from the center of the court, and the existing front drive is transformed into planted gardens, stone pathways and a rolling brook.
The project’s entry concourse serves as the new main entry to the entire hospital, creating a convenient point of orientation for visitors that leads to all major internal circulation paths. Every department is accessed from this lobby. The eight-story inpatient bed tower rises above a green-roofed podium, which houses the hospital’s new heart center, heart patient parking, and shell space for an expanded imaging department.
Hocking College Energy Institute, Logan, Ohio
Hocking College, owner
DesignGroup, Design Architect
Photography by Feinknopf Photography
The Hocking College Energy Institute (HCEI), a 12,200-square-foot classroom building, was designed to be the headquarters for Hocking College’s two-year degree program in sustainable technologies. Courses are taught in fuel cell technology and hybrid vehicle maintenance, as well as NABCEP certification, ground-source heat pump maintenance, and wind generator installation.
Built for a modest cost ($238/SF), HCEI is LEED-Platinum certified. In order to meet the budget requirements, while achieving these demanding goals, the design team pursued several simple concepts:
Climate Responsive Design: The building is oriented east-west, with the majority of glazing on the north and south facades, where overhangs shield glazing from the summer sun. Operable windows allow natural ventilation in all regularly-occupied spaces; the classrooms are designed to promote stack-effect ventilation. The clerestory in the classrooms optimizes daylighting, minimizing the need for artificial illumination.
Northstar Café – Beechwold, Columbus, Ohio
Kevin Malhame, Owner
GRA+D Architects, Andrew Rosenthal, Design Architect
Photography by Brad Feinknopf
The existing shell building was standard commercial in-fill construction (storefront, metal deck, bar joists and brick veneer). A breezeway that connects the rear parking to the front of the building is faced with glass creating a third wall of window on the front half of the space. Early in the design a central understanding of the space was simply two zones – a kitchen in the rear half of the space and the front space a dining room. A wall faced with small porcelain tiles mediates between the two primary zones, which are then knit together in a variety of ways. The kitchen pushes out into the dining area to form the point of sale and beverage preparation areas. The dining room gets punched back into the windowless rear of the restaurant (much in the same way individual booths do). This space becomes more finished and intimate. Outside awareness, prevalent throughout the main dining area, is provided by a single skylight.
In keeping with the character of the menu – the design features very few “off the shelf” items. The intention was to outfit the space with custom-made elements that were comfortable and approachable – not over designed or overly expensive. A system of hot-rolled steel bases was designed to hold up the tables as well as the seating (benches made from laminated wood beams). The tables are cast concrete – slotted to allow for the addition of privacy screens in the future should they be desired.
Merit Awards – Project Award (Projects scheduled to be build, as well as competitions, commissions, research or speculation)
Seneca County Courthouse Restoration, Tiffin, Ohio
Board of Seneca County Commissioners, Owner
Schooley Caldwell Associates, Design Architect
Photography by Schooley Caldwell Associates
When the County Courthouse was constructed in 1884, all county government functions except the sheriff and jail were housed in it. As the county grew in population and legal complexity, various functions were moved out. Eventually the old courthouse deteriorated to the point that the courts moved out, opening the door to a demolition project, which was stymied when local residents protested the imminent loss of their landmark courts building
Restoration of the historic Courthouse will provide state-of-the-art space for the Common Pleas Courts and the Clerk of Courts, as well as providing an appropriate setting, and a single, secure entrance, for the Probate and Juvenile Courts, which will be able to move into the spaces originally intended for them in the Annex.
More information can be found online at www.AIAColumbus.org.