By Alexandra Warner

Exterior view of the Statehouse from High St.

The Ohio Statehouse is located on the corner of State and High Street (51 Statehouse, Columbus, OH 43215) and is the location of state government for Ohio. The Statehouse house the Ohio General Assembly and the offices for the governor, treasure, auditor, secretary of state, attorney general, and lieutenant governor; the current governor is John Kasich, the treasurer is Josh Mandel, the auditor is Dave Yost, the secretary of state is Jon Husted, the attorney general is Mike DeWine, and the lieutenant governor is Mary Taylor (“State Government”). The General Assembly is a combination of the House of Delegates and the Senate, each being subdivided into committees. This division of power mimics the United States Congress (“Legislature”).

The Holocaust Memorial at the Statehouse

            The Statehouse is located on a ten-acre plot of land east of the Scioto River. This land was donated by four principal property-owners from the Franklinton (west of the Scioto River); these four are John Kerr, Lyne Starling, Alexander McLaughlin, and John Johnston. On July 4, 1839, the original construction on the Statehouse began with the use of prison labor to lay the foundation and ground floors. The use of prison labor diminished with the rationale being skilled craftsmen were losing out on good-paying jobs. The statehouse opened in 1857; however, initial construction finished in 1861, with renovations and extension coming later, including the Senate Annex (“Statehouse”). The grounds of the Statehouse contain multiple statues/memorials, including an Ohio World War Memorial, a Christopher Columbus Statue, an Ohio Holocaust and Liberators Memorial, etc (“Statues”).

            The Ohio Statehouse was originally designed by five key architects, including Nathan B. Kelley (eventually fired for adding unnecessary expenses and lavishes to the budget and building), Isaiah Rogers, Henry Ustick Walter, Alexander J. Davis, and Russell West (“Statehouse”). The Senate Annex (originally known as the Judiciary Annex) was an addition constructed between 1899 – 1901 and designed by Samuel Hannaford & Sons. The Annex mimicked the architectural style and façade of the original Statehouse (“Senate”).

            During the 1990s a $116 million renovation took place and included restoration to the Judiciary Annex (renamed and repurposed to Senate Annex), renovations to existing rooms and the addition of more rooms, including an atrium between the Statehouse and Annex. The architects behind this renovation are Schooley Caldwell Associates and Moody Nolan (“Statehouse”).  

            The architecture of the statehouse is consistent with many government buildings in the United States of America due to the similar styles, façades and materials. The architectural style of the Statehouse is Greek Revival in that it is like the Parthenon located in Athens Greece (“Statehouse”). Unlike the Parthenon however, the material used for the Ohio Statehouse and Annex was Columbus Limestone (not marble like in the case of the Parthenon). That originated from a local quarry. Many government buildings in the United States have distinct features that are predominantly large domes, including the Ohio Statehouse. The Ohio Statehouse’s main design feature is a cupola that is conical-shaped. Keeping with the Greek Revival, the Statehouse displays large columns distinguishing the entryway as an important feature, along with a pediment above the west entrance (“Ohio Statehouse”).  

            The architecture for the Statehouse features influences of Greek and Roman culture and ideas. Greek Revival is a style of architecture that revitalizes qualities of Greek Architecture, including pediments, columns, capitols, etc. The Ohio Statehouse displays exterior and interior columns with Doric capitols, along with a pediment above the main entryway.

            Along with Greek architecture, the Ohio Statehouse exemplifies Roman architecture using the cupola and dome. Romans are known for their use of the arch (including variations and manipulations of the concept) that become the defining feature. In the case of the Statehouse, the cupola and dome (variations if the arch) become the interior and exterior focal point.

Bibliography

Ohio, State Of. “Legislature.” Ohio.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/>.

Ohio, State Of. “State Government.” Ohio.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://ohio.gov/government/state/>.

“Ohio Statehouse: ArChallenge.” ArChallenge RSS. AIA Columbus, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://archallenge.aiacolumbus.org/project/ohio-statehouse/>.

“Senate Building: The Ohio Statehouse.” Senate Building: The Ohio Statehouse. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/about/capitol-square/senate-building>.

Statehouse: The Ohio Statehouse.” Statehouse: The Ohio Statehouse. Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/about/capitol-square/statehouse>.

“Statues and Monuments: The Ohio Statehouse.” Statues and Monuments: The Ohio Statehouse. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/about/capitol-square/statues-and-monuments>.

By Alexandra Warner

Students head to and from class on Oct. 23, 2013 at the Fisher College of Business, located on Ohio State’s Columbus campus. Fisher College of Business was recently ranked 36th in the nation.

Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University was founded on March 7, 1916 and is located on 2100 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210. The Fisher College of Business (aka Fisher) is a complex consisting of five academic buildings; these buildings include Mason Hall, Pfahl Hall, Fisher Hall, Gerlach Hall, and Schoenbaum Hall. The complex also consists of the Blackwell Inn and Conference Center. The completion of what is now known as the Fisher College of Business Complex was completed in two phases; Phase I consisted of Fisher Hall and Gerlach Hall and Phase II consisted of Mason Hall, Pfahl Hall, and Schoenbaum Hall (“Our”). Connecting these buildings are numerous outdoor, intersecting, walking paths and an underground tunnel system. The walking paths are open to the elements; however, with that said, the presence of a first floor stoa extends along the courtyard. These stoas are covered and accessible through the walking paths, but the stoas are dark most of the day; the sun hits each section of the stoa, partially lighting up the interior for a limited amount of time. During the day, most of the stoas are dark. The Fisher Complex can be entered through entry ways (between each building) are passing through one of the five buildings. The official entryway for the Fisher Complex (Bert L. & Iris S. Wolstein Gateway) is between Mason Hall and Schoenbaum Hall.

Exterior view of Mason Hall on the Fisher College of Business campus.

Mason Hall is located on 250 W Woodruff Ave, Columbus, OH 43210 and began construction on August 22, 1997 during phase II. This building was dedicated and completed in the autumn of 1999. Mason Hall is named after Raymond E. Mason, who graduated from and played football for The Ohio State University. The architects for Mason hall were Karlsberger Company, Cooper Robertson & Partners, and Kallman McKinnel & Wood. Mason Hall contains the office of Information Technology Services, computer labs accessible to students, indoor and outdoor patio space (includes seating), and a café (“Mason”). Mason Hall is easiest to distinguish between the five buildings due to its corner cylinder that extrudes into the courtyard. Contained in the lower level of the cylinder space is the popular Rohr Café and patio space. The exterior patio space borders the courtyard connecting the academic buildings. Compared to the other rectangular buildings, the addition of the cylinder to Mason Hall presents a “post-card image” of the Fisher College of Business.

Pfahl Hall is located on 280 W Woodruff Ave., Columbus, OH 43210 and is named after John K. Pfahl, who was a finance professor and the “chair of the finance department at Fisher College.”  Pfahl hall was completed during phase II and approved in 1996; the architects on the project are Karlsberger Company, Cooper Robertson & Partners, and Kallman McKinnel & Wood (“Pfahl”). Pfahl is a brick, rectangular prism with a datum of windows. When imagining business, this building resembles the other three business buildings. Pfahl Hall contains executive education programs, a conference center and a restaurant.

Fisher Hall is located on 2100 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210 and was designed by Karlsberger Company, Cooper Robertson & Partners, and Kallman McKinnel & Wood. Fisher was included in Phase I and completed on August 3, 1998. Fisher Hall, much like the Fisher College of Business is names after Max M. Fisher who was an Ohio State graduate and became a successful businessman and donated 20 million dollars to the Fisher College of Business. Within Fisher Hall, there are faculty and administrative offices, along with “research and business partnership centers” (“Fisher”). Much like Pfahl and Mason, the façade of Fisher Hall is brick with a repetition of windows. Much like Pfahl Hall, Fisher Hall resembles a similar block shape; however, it stands much taller at ten stories (plus a basement).

Gerlach Hall is located on 2108 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210 and was designed by Karlsberger Company, Cooper Robertson & Partners, and Kallman McKinnel & Wood. Gerlach Hall was completed as a part of Phase I on August 3, 1998 and is named after a well-known businessman (and former OSU Foundation Board Chair) John B. Gerlach. This building houses the graduate programs at the Fisher Complex, the Office of Career Management, and the Batten Investment Laboratory (“Gerlach”). Gerlach is like Pfahl with the datum of windows and repetitious, brick façade.

Exterior view of Schoenbaum Hall.

Schoenbaum Hall is located on 210 W Woodruff Ave, Columbus, OH 43210 and includes the undergraduate business programs and the Berry Auditorium. This building is named after Alex and Betty Schoenbaum due to their numerous contributions to Ohio State University and was completed during Phase II on August 20, 1999. Schoenbaum Hall resembles the other buildings in this complex (designed by Karlsberger Company, Cooper Robertson & Partners, and Kallman McKinnel & Wood) in that it has the brick and windows with a stoa surrounding the courtyard (“Schoenbaum”).

The overall architectural style for the Fisher College of Business is utilitarian. Utilitarian architecture is a minimalistic style used primarily for function and efficiency rather than a piece of artwork. The characteristics of utilitarian included large windows, high ceilings, and inexpensive materials. The large windows and high ceilings provide natural light, reducing the need for artificial light; this is ultimately more efficient by reducing electrical cost (“The Utilitarian”).

The idea of a stoa originates from Greek architecture. The stoa, but definition, is a free standing, covered walkway supported by columns. Each building of Fisher College contains a stoa at the ground level. This provides shade and coverage from the elements for individuals walking to and from destinations (“Stoa”).

Bibliography

Herrick, John H. “Fisher Hall, Max M.” Knowledge Bank. The Ohio State University, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. <http://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/24267>.

Herrick, John H. “Gerlach Graduate Programs Building, J. B.” Knowledge Bank. The Ohio State University, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. <http://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/24389>.

Herrick, John H. “Mason Hall, Raymond E.” Knowledge Bank. The Ohio State University, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. <https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/38579>.

“Our Campus.” Fisher College of Business. N.p., 21 July 2016. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. <https://fisher.osu.edu/about-fisher/our-campus>.

“Pfahl Executive Education Building.” Knowlton School Digital Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. <https://ksamedia.osu.edu/work/64451>.

“Schoenbaum Undergraduate Program Building.” Knowlton School Digital Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. <https://ksamedia.osu.edu/work/64449>.

“Stoa.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. <https://www.britannica.com/technology/stoa>.

“The Utilitarian Architectural Style.” Architecture. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2016. <http://academics.smcvt.edu/winooskimills/millshistory/architecture%20and%20engineering/Intro%20architecture%20.htm>