The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Transforming a campus residential zone into a live-learn neighborhood
The Ohio State University, a flagship institution of more than 55,000 students, had embarked on an ambitious plan to provide an immersive “live-learn” experience for freshmen and sophomores. Achieving this goal meant doubling the number of students living within the campus’s 27-acre north residential district—then characterized by undistinguished 1960s-era buildings and weak connections to the campus core—and rethinking the services, amenities, and spaces provided.
Working with a broad range of OSU constituencies, the Goody Clancy-led planning team, in collaboration with Elkus/Manfredi Architects, developed a vision and plan for transforming this district into an extension of the university’s learning environment: a cohesive residential neighborhood of more than 6,000 underclassmen complete with informal learning spaces, new dining and recreation facilities, and the resources that will support students’ development during their critical first two years at OSU.
Completed in 2012, the plan:
- Weaves together new and old buildings to provide 3,200 additional beds in 12 new residence halls, along with replacement of all utility infrastructure
- Phases new development, enabling existing residence halls, dining, and recreation facilities to remain operational while new facilities are constructed over a period of several years
- Meets an aggressive budget target through programming that prioritizes shared over private student space, selection of economical construction systems and materials, and iterative cost modeling over the course of the planning process
- Balances buildings with outdoor spaces to create a human-scaled campus environment with a rich and varied open space network that links the district more closely to the core of the OSU campus and the neighborhoods beyond
IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation of the North Residential District Plan is underway, with phased completion anticipated in 2015 and 2016.
