COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Downtown Commission of Columbus approved on Tuesday a new $15 million renovation project for the Columbus College of Art and Design campus.
The commission presented a project earlier this month that would turn the corner of East Gay Street and Cleveland Avenue into a new working greenspace and workspace for students and the public.
CCAD President Dr. Melanie Corn says the renewal of Battelle Hall will become the Center of Creative Collaboration. It will focus on 3D digital fabrication and opportunities for traditional wood and metalworking.
“We have the pleasure of having a wonderful sort of traditional college campus with a quad and residence halls and great buildings, but also being right downtown, so that great mix of both, and as is always important to continue to update,” she said.
Dr. Corn explained Battelle Hall’s rich history as a Columbus Motor Car Company body shop before it was renovated in the 1970s. Part of the new design is to go back and rediscover the original windows for the student spaces.
“It's going to be a light, airy, beautiful building. And one of the things I think that's really important about this building is something we talk a lot about at CCAD, which is that a lot of our previous buildings don't do a great job of really showing what's happening in them. And this building is going to be all about making the making visible and really helping our community see all of the amazing things that happen here at CCAD,” said Dr. Corn.
Construction on the new Center of Creative Collaboration is expected to break ground in the next academic school year.