Campus of the Future: Ohio State advances facilities planning to support academic mission

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The university will seek approval from the full Board of Trustees to move from programming to design on key projects aligned with Ohio State’s strategic plan and identified in Framework 2.0, a vision for physical space on the Columbus campus.

The university will request approval for professional service contracts not to exceed $45 million for the interdisciplinary research facility, arts district and interdisciplinary health sciences center.

In addition, the university is seeking approval to advertise for professional services for inpatient and outpatient services facilities at the Wexner Medical Center.

The five projects, approved as programming studies in April, advance a number of the university’s strategic focus areas, including research and creative expression, teaching and learning, and academic health care.

“Our strategic plan sets forth bold aspirations for Ohio State — and we continue to explore new ways across all disciplines to define the 21st century flagship public research university,” said Bruce A. McPheron, executive vice president and provost.

Additional information, including features identified through the programming studies, includes:

• Interdisciplinary research facility: innovative and modern environment to serve multiple disciplines; programming study identified approximately 380,000 new square feet — including wet, computation and core labs, a vivarium and support spaces — as part of the mid-west campus research corridor.

• Arts district: high-quality learning environments for interaction across the arts with long-term plans to open Ohio State’s front door to the heart of the University District at 15th Avenue and High Street; programming study identified the relocation of the Department of Theatre, consolidation of the fine arts, music, dance and theatre library collections; expansion of Weigel Hall for the School of Music and moving-image production major.

• Interdisciplinary health sciences center: upgraded and flexible facilities to create a collaborative campus for interprofessional education throughout the Health Sciences, including the colleges of medicine, optometry and nursing and the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences; programming study identified classrooms, teaching and simulation labs, faculty offices and support spaces surrounding a quadrangle with green space.

• Wexner Medical Center hospital: programming study continues to plan for best-of-class hospital facilities and inpatient clinical space with a focus on teaching, research and evidence-based health care and design.

• Wexner Medical Center ambulatory facility: programming study continues to plan for best-of-class ambulatory facilities and clinical spaces with a focus on teaching, research and evidence-based health care and design.

“With the board’s approval, and in concert with our strategic plan, we are ready to take the next steps in Framework 2.0 by engaging design professionals to help shape the future of research, clinical care and arts on our campus,” said Keith Myers, vice president of planning and real estate.

Additionally, the university will seek initial approvals for an optometry clinic and health sciences faculty office located at 11th and Neil avenues — the first step in potential future work on the broader interdisciplinary health sciences center (read more).