The Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority (FCCFA) underwent an expansion of the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Downtown Columbus. MKSK provided the Landscape Architectural site development as part of multidisciplinary teams for the project. The Expansion Project is composed of two parts. Part 1 is the Convention Center North Expansion which included the redevelopment of the streetscape along Goodale Boulevard. Part 2 is the High Street Eastside Improvements, Arnold Plaza redevelopment, Connector Improvements (Ohio Center Way), and Greenwall, bounded by High Street and the north edge of the Hyatt Regency hotel site on the south. The project utilized and further advanced the preliminary design as part of the City of Columbus Short North Streetscape Redevelopment project.

The design goal for the facility expansion and enhancement included respecting and expressing the unique architectural character of the building with a focus on pedestrian vitality, retail exposure, and public art display. A series of new pedestrian 'zones' along Goodale Boulevard and High Street include arrival plazas, entry courts, pocket gardens, as well as improvements to the service court and entry/drop-off zone for the Convention Center.

The project, a collaboration among the design teams, FCCFA staff, food service operators, public artist, lighting and signage/wayfinding designers, city officials, and the Columbus Downtown Commission has resulted in a more navigable, pedestrian-friendly, and vibrant Downtown Convention Center Campus.

Project Team:

 
Client/Owner: Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority
Landscape Architecture: MKSK, Inc.
Architect of Record, Architectural and Interior Design: LMN Architects
Associate Architect: Schooley Caldwell Associates
Civil Engineer: EMH&T and Korda/Nemeth Engineering
MEP Engineer: Heapy Engineering
Lighting Designer: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design, Zinkon Creative Studio (formerly Tec Studio Inc.)
Structural: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Acoustics & AV/Data: Stantec & Dynamix Engineering Ltd.
Environmental Signage: Pentagram
Construction Manager: Corna Kokosing, Elford Construction


The upcoming Streetscapes Issue of Landscape Architect and Specifier News saw many firms submit their projects for feature consideration. This project was not chosen for a Feature in the issue, but we at LandscapeArchitect.com thought the project deserved to be showcased online . . .

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