Several Construction Projects Are In Progress On Columbus Campus (09-14-99)

9-14-99

Several Construction Projects Are In Progress On Columbus Campus

COLUMBUS -- Just like the constant construction that casts a shadow over the Columbus skyline, building projects are playing a big role on the Ohio State University campus this year.

"We have more under construction right now than we've had for a long time," said University Architect Jill Morelli.

One of the largest projects is the Fisher College of Business, which will dedicate three new buildings on Oct. 21: Schoenbaum Hall, Mason Hall and Pfahl Hall. This will bring to five the number of buildings completed at the college. The sixth, an Executive Residence, is in the design phase.

Schoenbaum Hall is an undergraduate building housing an auditorium, classrooms, undergraduate career counseling, student services and faculty offices. Mason Hall houses computer labs, a business library and a computer-interactive decision-conferencing lab on the fourth floor for executives. Pfahl Hall is an executive education building with classrooms, offices, a dining room and a kitchen that will be built in conjunction with the Executive Residence project.

Across Woody Hayes Drive from the business complex sits the new Tuttle Park Place Garage, providing approximately 1,000 parking spaces. Satellite offices for Transportation and Parking Services and University Police are housed in the garage. In addition, the Shops at Tuttle Park Place include Buck-I-Mart convenience store, UNICOMP ... The Technology Store, Cop-EZ and Oxley's By The Numbers cafe.

Other construction updates:

The Longaberger Alumni House, located on Olentangy River Road at the south end of the Fawcett Center parking lot, will be completed in late fall, Morelli said. The $9.5 million structure will house the Alumni Association, allowing the Office of Development to move in to the association's old quarters in the Fawcett Center. The Alumni House also will provide a large space for Board of Trustees meetings and alumni events.
A $23 million Heart and Lung Institute, 473 W. 12th Ave., is on target for an April 2000 completion date. The remaining section of Upham Hall was torn down to make way for the six-story structure. It will serve as a teaching and research facility for diseases of the heart and lungs.
The $8.6 million Younkin Success Center, 1640 Neil Ave., is expected to be occupied by spring quarter. Located at the site of the former Neil Hall, which was demolished to make way for the 60,000-square-foot facility, the center will house student athlete support services, study spaces, counseling and consultation services, and an academic learning lab (see separate news release).
A new building is under construction at 2015 Fyffe Court for the Food Science and Technology program. It will include classrooms, offices, research laboratories and computing facilities for the department. The $12.1 million project, which also includes renovation of the third floor of Howlett Hall, is expected to be completed by fall 2000.
Ongoing renovation work on Ohio Stadium will continue through the 2000 football season, but the construction is not expected to disrupt game days. The project calls for a taller C-deck, new outer wall, an A-deck with seats closer to the field, and two levels of hospitality suites on the west side of B-deck. It also will include additional elevators, concessions and rest rooms. A chain-link fence surrounding the stadium and removal of the running track will be about the only visible changes fans will see this season. Approximately 200 parking spaces in both the northeast and southeast stadium lots have been closed to facilitate the renovation.
McPherson Laboratory, 140 W. 18th Ave., has been renovated to meet the needs of the Department of Chemistry and to provide additional space for high-priority instructional needs for the Department of Astronomy and the College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
A new Life and Physical Sciences building has been completed on the Lima campus. The $15 million facility houses labs, classrooms and office space. Projects under design with groundbreaking set for this academic year include:
A $50 million Physical Sciences Building, to be located at 190 W. 19th Ave., is currently in design. Construction, expected to cost $41 million, will begin in August 2000.
The university is selecting architects for a $17 million renovation to Page Hall, located at 1810 College Road. The facility will house the School of Public Policy and Management, classrooms, the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, and a shop for the Department of Physical Facilities. Road projects include:
Woody Hayes Drive paving is complete. The project involved paving from College Road to Herrick Drive, as well as Ninth Avenue from Neil Avenue to Belmont Avenue, according to Phil Soule, university engineer.
A section of Carmack Road from the west campus parking lots to Lane Avenue was repaved and widened at Lane Avenue to make room for left- and right-turn lanes.
Work on a steam manhole near the 12th Avenue parking garage had sections of 12th Avenue closed most of the summer, Soule said, but was completed Sept. 1.
Curl Drive running from Woodruff Drive to Neil Avenue will be repaved in spring or summer 2000.
The King Avenue Bridge over the Olentangy River has been closed to through traffic since April 21, 1998, to facilitate its reconstruction. The completion date has been revised to early November, 1999. This is a Franklin County project.

Contact: Jill Morelli, University Architect, (614) 292-4458