SMBH

A creative culture of passionate people engaged in innovative structural design.

Civic

Westgate Recreation Center Addition

Westgate Rec Center-1

Westgate Recreation Center

Location:
Columbus, Ohio

Architect:
Braun & Steidl Architects

Construction Cost:
$5.1 million

Project Size:
25,000 SF

Westgate Recreation Center is located in Westgate Park on the City of Columbus’ west side.  The center offers a variety of classes for all ages as well as sport and recreation activities.  The center was built in the 1960’s.  Since then, the needs of the center have changed. More space was needed to serve the growing community and an update to the center was needed.

This project completely renovated the existing recreation center to update and refresh the interior spaces. The project included general improvements and renovations including window and door replacement, mechanical system replacement and the addition of air conditioning, interior finish improvements and improved ADA accessibility.  An addition was constructed on the south side of the existing building.  The addition extends the basement, first floor and second floor spaces.  The addition added an exercise room in the basement and a multipurpose room on the first floor.  To improve ADA accessibility, an elevator serving the basement, first floor and second floor, was included in the addition, as the original building did not have an elevator.  The addition was designed to allow southern daylight into the new spaces.  Large windows were built into the south wall of the multipurpose room and a clerestory was built over the elevator lobby and corridor space leading into the multipurpose room.

The structure of the existing building had to be modified to accommodate the new addition.  Large openings were cut into the existing basement and first floor walls to allow for the spaces to flow uninterrupted from the existing building to the new addition.  The elevator was located directly adjacent to the existing building, requiring the existing foundation to be underpinned for the elevator pit.  The large windows on the south side of the multipurpose room required a creative solution to provide lateral support to the masonry bearing walls below the windows.  The structure also responds to the aesthetic of the new interior spaces.  Detailing of the structure was carefully coordinated with the architect to ensure that the space is pleasing and inviting.

The Scioto Mile

Scioto Mile

The Scioto Mile

Location: 
Columbus, Ohio

Architect:
MKSK

Construction Cost:
$44 million

Located in the heart of the city, the Scioto Mile is a green corridor that connects downtown Columbus, Ohio with the Scioto River. The Scioto Mile is a cornerstone revitalization project and will help attract and complement residential development, boost property values, and stimulate commercial growth. The Town Street Prow – designed to look very much like the prow on a ship - will serve as the end of the green gateway of the Scioto Mile, accented by gardens, decorative lighting and stone benches.

SMBH utilized post-tensioning cables in the design which were used to bolster the concrete sides of the forming landmass. The use of post-tensioning on the prow enabled the tying of two walls to each other instead of designing very large cantilevered retaining walls. Two additional buildings are part of the overall project – a glass-enclosed café restaurant (Milestone 229) with an outdoor terrace overlooking the park serves as an architectural icon along the Riverfront and a Pavilion. The café building includes a public restroom facility. The shape of the buildings, the roof spans and the desired aesthetic made post-tensioned concrete the best choice on these two buildings as well.

One predominate feature of the park is the stainless steel fountains. SMBH worked closely with the architect providing assistance in sizing the stainless steel fountain pipes through several design iterations, balancing the structural requirements with the many aesthetic aspects. SMBH also provided structural assistance on several of the site features including the concrete curbs, fountain basins, light pole foundations, concrete stairs, retaining walls, and fountain vaults.

North Bank Park

NorthBanks Pavillion1

North Bank Park

Location:
Columbus, Ohio

Architect:
Acock Associates/
HKI Architects

Construction Cost:
$2.5 million

Project Size:
20,000 SF

The first of a number of significant park improvements for downtown Columbus, North Bank Park is part of the Scioto Mile network of downtown parks.

SMBH worked with the designers and Alan McKnight of the Department of Recreation and Parks to design a creative, exposed structure for the pavilion. The structure was designed to compliment the railroad bridges that create the east and west boundaries of the park. In addition to the pavilion, the project included restroom/kitchen and storage buildings.

SMBH worked closely with the architects on this project to ensure that the visual look was achieved. An excellent example of how architects and engineers need to work together, this project is part of the Scioto Mile Riverfront Redevelopment. As a continuation of the downtown revitalization vision, this project creates park spaces on the east side of the Scioto River extending from Broad Street to Bicentennial Park. SMBH worked with the Department of Recreation and Parks and the design team. The additional green space is yet another amenity to attract residents to downtown.

Columbus Museum of Art Expansion

Columbus Museum of Art

Columbus Museum of Art Expansion

Location:
Columbus, Ohio

Architect:
DesignGroup

Construction Cost:
$30 million

Project Size:
94,000 SF

LEED Certification:
Silver

The addition of the new Margaret M. Walter Wing and the renovation of the existing building gave the Columbus Museum of Art a significant amount of new gallery, administrative, and retail space. The project included a major addition and a significant renovation of the 1974 wing of the museum, resulting in a project that is an integrated interior space featuring the original 1930’s building. The styles of the original building and the addition are very different, yet it feels like a seamless space.

The large open gallery spaces in the new wing were made possible by using one-way post tensioned concrete slabs and beams on the ground floor and long-span steel joists for the roof. In addition, the high anticipated live load dictated that a very robust structure be used in the gallery areas. Because of these factors, multiple types of structural systems were integrated into the overall design to accommodate all of the different conditions.

The renovation of the 1974 wing included adding an event space, which required that an existing column be removed while maintaining the existing roof structure. The new areas interface with the original structure in an irregular and novel manner. These locations required an unusually high level of creativity and coordination to achieve the overall design goals.

The Construction Manager was involved in the design from the beginning, and a highly intense coordination process was needed due to physical space restrictions.

Awards:

  • 2016 AIA Columbus Honor Award
  • 2016 James B Recchie Design Award
  • 2015 Wall Street Journal: The Best Architecture

Filed Under: Civic