City, CDDC, OSU, and Battelle To Work Together to Transform Downtown Lazarus Building into the Columbus Center for the Arts and Sciences

Business and civic leaders, joined by Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, today announced a unique partnership to bring a dynamic new purpose to the historic Lazarus building downtown. A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) and two of Central Ohio’s most renowned research institutions, The Ohio State University and Battelle, in which they committed to work together on plans to redevelop the Lazarus Building as “the Columbus Center for the Arts and Sciences.”

The Center would be the home for research and development activities of the institutes for applied sciences, which would also function as an incubator for new business technology. The restored building would also serve as a magnet for arts organizations with artist studios, galleries and restaurants, re-energizing one of downtown’s most revered buildings and creating a cornerstone for the birth of the new RiverSouth District.

“The Center would breathe new life into this magnificent building,” said Thomas E. Hoaglin, Chair of CDDC. “It would also redefine Town Street as a place for people to stroll, dine, window shop and enjoy art, sparking the rebirth of the RiverSouth neighborhood in time for the city’s bicentennial in 2012.”

According to terms of the Agreement, Battelle, The Ohio State University, CDDC, and The Georgetown Company, CDDC’s development manager, will spend the next year preparing the detailed plans for the institutes for applied sciences, its capital budget, financing plans, architectural drawings and assembling the needed public/private partnerships.

The institutes for applied sciences would be a joint project of The Ohio State University and Battelle, and could include up to 200,000 square feet of offices, and laboratory, academic and demonstration space dedicated to applied research, combining academic with private sector use. Under the agreement, Ohio State and Battelle will begin with a focus on environmental and life science research in areas such as clean energy, environmental stewardship and regional climate change. The work of the institutes will be accessible to the general public through a creative collaboration emerging with COSI.

To further revamp the building, the OSU College of the Arts is spearheading plans for a community of working artists, design studios and offices, as well as a windowed galleria with exhibition space. The OSU College of the Arts will work with Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD), Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), the Ohio Arts League, the Ohio Arts Council, the Columbus Museum of Art and other interested arts organizations to develop plans to create up to 50,000 square feet of active urban arts and design spaces to showcase the work of artists in residence and the creative capital of the region. Over the next six months, the Agreement requires CDDC, the OSU College of the Arts and other arts organizations to prepare architectural plans, a construction and operating budget, and establish a financial plan for operation.

“Ohio State and Battelle are already collaborating on a number of projects in the Life Sciences, Business and Engineering areas that will generate significant health benefits for citizens in the region, and here we see an opportunity to expand that collaboration,” said Dr. Karen A. Holbrook, Ohio State University President. “We also recognize the outstanding opportunity the Center could provide our College of the Arts to showcase the fine work of our faculty and students. Through this joint effort, the University also participates in helping to revitalize downtown Columbus, and we are thrilled that Ohio State has this opportunity to give back to the community that has embraced our University for so many years.”

“This initiative brings together two of Columbus’ largest research assets—Battelle and The Ohio State University—in a cooperative venture that could greatly benefit the Central Ohio community,” said Carl F. Kohrt, President and CEO of Battelle. “Long-term, our mutual interest is in working together to attract even more research funding to downtown Columbus, which translates into new ideas and initiatives and—just as important—new jobs.”

“Today we are stepping toward a better future for one of downtown’s most historic buildings – Lazarus,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “While we were disappointed to lose a part of Downtown Columbus history, this plan is bringing together some of our community’s great leaders in a partnership that will pave the way for an incredible rebirth. This is an unprecedented opportunity to leverage our research assets to not only invest in what’s best for downtown but also invest in building our high-tech economy and creating jobs for the future.”

Columbus City Council recently approved $33 million in initial financing for downtown revitalization projects in the RiverSouth district. Some of those funds will be directed to the Center.

“This initiative offers tremendous synergy as well as priceless irony,” said Council President Matt Habash. “Creativity electrifies great art and illuminates successful scientific research. Ironically, today’s tough economic environment demands the same creative force when re-energizing our downtown. I’m pleased to see our capital investments will help ignite this most exciting and worthwhile effort.”

CDDC’s development manager – The Georgetown Company – will immediately begin developing architectural plans and making physical improvements to the building. These plans call for restoring the Town and Front Street facades and creating a Town Street Galleria and lobby with an atrium extending the entire height of the building. The atrium will provide a gathering place on each floor for researchers, office employees and artists working in the building. The Town Street Galleria will contain a mix of art exhibition and retail space, with restaurants opening onto outdoor patios along Town Street. Under the plan, a block-long plaza will reinvigorate a newly landscaped Town Street and serve as a backdrop for open-air dining and strolling.

“Under our Master Plan for RiverSouth, Town Street shall become the ‘gateway’ to a revitalized, mixed-use district,” said Edgar Lampert, President of The Georgetown Company. “The Lazarus Building, redeveloped as the ‘Center for the Arts and Sciences,’ will be both an anchor for the district and a symbol of a Downtown on the rise.”

The Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce has been an instrumental partner with OSU and Battelle in elevating the region’s stature in the Life Sciences area over the past four years.

“This is the first significant achievement from a four-year effort, led by the Chamber and the Mayor, to plan our economic future in three targeted areas — life sciences, downtown and advanced logistics,” said Ty Marsh, President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce. “The Center is a boost for two of our economic development priorities, and that bodes well for future achievements.”

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation is a private, non-profit development corporation created to realize a visionary, community plan to make downtown Columbus among the most attractive center cities in the United States. The board consists of senior business and institutional leaders who have a strong commitment to downtown revitalization.