SMBH

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

Civic

Columbus Metropolitan Library – Whitehall Branch

Location:
Whitehall, Ohio

Architect:
JBAD

LEED Certification:
LEED Silver Certified

Construction Cost:
$4 million

Project Size:
 19,000 SF

Awards:

  • 2017 AIA/ALA Library Building Award
  • 2015 AIA Ohio Merit Design Award
  • 2015 AIA Columbus Merit Award

SMBH designed the 19,000 SF new library based on simple, open, and transparent public reading areas with nearby services and meeting rooms. The interior design is extremely flexible, enabling the library to quickly change the facility configuration to the community's needs. The roof structure has several inclined planes with openings carved in the roof over exterior plazas and entrances, and three skylights carved into the roof above interior spaces. The exterior cladding is a glass curtain wall, maximizing the available light in the space.

Exterior photo of the Columbus Metropolitan Library Whitehall Branch in Whitehall, Ohio.
0_1243_Libraries_Columbus Metropolitan Library Whitehall Branch-50-Pano

Westgate Recreation Center Addition

Location:
Columbus, Ohio

Architect:
Braun & Steidl Architects

Construction Cost:
$5.1 million

Project Size:
 25,000 SF

Westgate Rec Center-1

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

Location:
Columbus, Ohio

Architect:
MKSK

Construction Cost:
$44 million

Awards:

2017 ULI Columbus Awards for Excellence Community Impact Award, Downtown Riverfront

2016 APA National Planning Excellence Award for Implementation, Downtown Columbus Riverfront

2014 ULI Urban Open Space Award Finalist

2012 Columbus Landmarks Foundation James B. Recchie Design Award

2012 IDA Pinnacle Award for Excellence

2011 OCASLA Award of Excellence

2011 OPRA Award of Excellence

2011 Columbus Downtown Commission Harrison W. Smith Award

2011 Capital Crossroads SID Outstanding Aesthetic Contribution

Located in the city's heart, the Scioto Mile is a green corridor connecting 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. Post-tensioning on the prow enabled tying two walls to each other instead of designing massive 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 that 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 for these two buildings.

One predominant feature of the park is the stainless steel fountains. SMBH worked closely with the architect, assisting 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 site features, including concrete curbs, fountain basins, light pole foundations, concrete stairs, retaining walls, and fountain vaults.

E_1025_Scioto Mile-1

North Bank Park

Location:
Columbus, Ohio

Architect:
Acock Associates/
HKI Architects

Construction Cost:
$2.5 million

Project Size:
20,000 SF

Awards:
2007 Columbus Landmark Foundation James B Recchie Award

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 complement 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.

a small fountain in front of the sheltherhouse at North Bank Park in Downtown, Columbus. Part of the Scioto Mile.