Arena Architects Chosen

ARCHITECTS SELECTED FOR NEW ARENA AT OHIO STATE

     COLUMBUS -- A new basketball and multi-purpose arena at The
Ohio State University came one step closer to reality Friday
(11/4) with the selection of a team of architects to design the
approximately 20,000-seat, $60 million facility.

     University Architect Jill Morelli announced that the
Columbus firm of Moody/Nolan Ltd. Inc. and the Denver firm of
Sink Combs Dethlefs were the successful candidates from the pool
of seven local and nine national firms that submitted proposals.

     "We anticipate beginning schematics by the first of the year
and completion of construction by late winter 1998," Morelli
said.

     She said the university had requested proposals both from
local firms familiar with Ohio State and the community and from
national firms with considerable experience in designing
facilities of this kind.

     Morelli said three criteria were especially important in
choosing the architects: commitment to student involvement in the
planning process; recognition of the implications of dealing with
a variety of funding sources; and depth of experience in dealing
with arenas of the size and type envisioned for Ohio State.

     "Planning issues are paramount," she said.  "This will be a
very important building at a very visible entrance to the campus.
We are hiring architects and planners who are nationally
recognized for their ability to plan structures of this dimension
and importance."

     Curt Moody, president and chief executive officer of
Moody/Nolan Ltd., said his firm is "committed to design the
country's premier athletic facility."  A three-time letterman in
basketball at Ohio State, Moody was a member of the 1971-73
teams, including the 1971 Big Ten champions.

     He believes his experiences as a college athlete and long-
time Ohio State fan will add a special sensitivity to his
approach.

     Moody/Nolan, the largest African-American owned architecture
firm in this part of the country, also recently completed
drawings for an Olympic arena in Atlanta.  That experience, too,
will be valuable in designing the Ohio State arena, Moody said.
"We have been researching arenas for the past year and have many
ideas on how to approach the Ohio State project."

     Moody/Nolan will be collaborating with Sink Combs Dethlefs,
a Denver-based firm that specializes in sports, recreation and
entertainment centers.  Recent projects include the San Jose
Arena and a commission to design a multi-sport complex in
Winnepeg, as well as facilities at the University of Colorado,
San Diego State, and the University of Iowa.

     Dick Combs, chief executive officer of Sink Combs Dethlefs,
said tying the design of the arena to existing university
architecture will be a critical factor.  "It's a very large
building.  The real key will be to relate it to the rest of the
campus."

     Combs said that other design challenges will involve parking
and pedestrian access and creating a true multi-purpose facility
that can be downsized for smaller events.

     The state legislature appropriated $15 million for the
arena, and the remaining funds are to be raised by private
donations and bond sales.  The facility will be designed for a
variety of uses including varsity basketball, ice hockey and
other sports, as well as concerts and convocations.  It will be
located at the northwest corner of Lane Avenue and Olentangy
River Road, and is to be planned in a way that would not affect
future construction of a baseball stadium in the vicinity.

     "We're thrilled with the opportunity to work with two
extraordinary, qualified architectural firms," said Andy Geiger,
director of athletics.  "It is especially pleasing that Curt
Moody and his associates will be involved with creating the
future home for the basketball team on which he participated as
an undergraduate.  We're also highly impressed with the work
accomplished throughout North America by Sink Combs Dethlefs.  We
think we have a winning team."

                                #
                                
Contact: Jill Morelli, University Architect, (614) 292-4458
         Curt Moody, Moody/Nolan, (614) 253-2623
         Dick Combs, Sink Combs Dethlefs, (03) 830-1200.


[Submitted by: GERSTNER  (gerstner@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu)
               
Fri, 04 Nov 1994 17:38:08 -0500 (EST)]
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