8 hours ago, cbussoccer said:

 

I'm extremely excited to have such a tall new building going up (it would be our 11th tallest building), but it will kind of suck to have  such a massive wall blocking a lot of the campus "skyline" when you are driving down 315. 

It will be very imposing and impressive. Yeah it will be a bit of a monolith but the existing one is not that bad and if the new one has similar fenestration and setbacks and all, it won't be so bad really IMO.

 

If it connects all the way to the existing medical and forms one building, it will look massive.  I want more height along the 315 corridor!  ?

 

 

Edited July 23, 20204 yr by Toddguy

It will definitely be curious to see how they break up the massing. I wouldn't be surprised if the height was set back from the edge of Cannon as well. 

 

In terms of the original "vision" of the now park-facing Cannon Drive frontage, we so far have a gigantic parking garage (whose facade treatment has yet to be realized) and a seemingly imposing hospital tower...

 

 

Not exactly the Arena District scale/aesthetic as originally envisioned, but I supposed we'll have to wait and see... They did later update a rendering with the idea of another James-scale tower in the position as we're discussing today.

We also tentatively have a new parcel for development with the new Franklin County Forensic Science Center taking the place of the old morgue facility at King and [Old] Cannon Drive. I'm unclear as to whether the county is retaining this old facility or if it is now permanently closed? I know OSU had proposed a parking garage on the corner of Old Cannon and Medical Center Drive, too, another development that I haven't seen any updates on. I wonder if the morgue parcel will stay in county control or if the university plans to purchase it?

I didn’t realize they planned on having that much density. Hopefully it turns out that way. They own pretty much everything in the area don’t they?

21 hours ago, jebleprls22 said:

We also tentatively have a new parcel for development with the new Franklin County Forensic Science Center taking the place of the old morgue facility at King and [Old] Cannon Drive. I'm unclear as to whether the county is retaining this old facility or if it is now permanently closed? I know OSU had proposed a parking garage on the corner of Old Cannon and Medical Center Drive, too, another development that I haven't seen any updates on. I wonder if the morgue parcel will stay in county control or if the university plans to purchase it?

If I remember correctly, the new Forensic Science Center had a decently long construction timeline so I believe the morgue is still operating out of the Old Cannon Drive Facility at this time.

 

**Edit** I am wrong, it appears to be complete after a quick search. Time flies! Building looks good.

Edited July 24, 20204 yr by NightNectar

23 hours ago, VintageLife said:

I didn’t realize they planned on having that much density. Hopefully it turns out that way. They own pretty much everything in the area don’t they?

@VintageLife any of the "new land" they created with the New Cannon Drive is all university land, yes. The old morgue is owned by the county. The parking lot next door to the morgue (to the north) is the university. 

With the new hospital tower, the existing hospital buildings will be taken out of rotation. Not sure if they'll be wholly demolished or if they plan to maintain and renovate them. There is a lot of planned shuffling with some of the proposed new facilities up at Hamilton Hall and the nursing building being expanded. So some of that new land at Cannon (specifically the parcel that they have now added construction staging/parking, bounded by King/Old Cannon/New Cannon/Medical Center Drive) will likely be land-banked indefinitely until such a time is required to build wholly new facilities to replace existing antiquated ones. As is the nature of medical centers and universities.

For anyone wondering, it does seem that this garage was designed with eventual expansion/to be topped with a building (see the extension of columns, extrusion of them through the top parking deck, etc.). Does anyone have insight as to why they would have constructed the roof over the ramp portion like they did? Would it be to aid the future roof-top construction as to "cap" the garage below during construction or something?

I remain very intrigued to see what kind of facade treatment this garage receives... I haven't seen any clues yet. But the other Med Center garages all have something interesting going on, so I hope this one does (considering its visibility from 315 and park-facing facade...

This image is from the construction cam this morning, 2020/07/29. It seems to have topped out, and work on the exterior circulation towers are well on their way. 

 

And if anyone is curious about the floorplan/roadway connections around it, I pulled this from an OSU board meeting minutes a year or so ago:

I'm truly baffled a garage of this size and capacity can function with one up/down ramp.

3 hours ago, jebleprls22 said:

For anyone wondering, it does seem that this garage was designed with eventual expansion/to be topped with a building (see the extension of columns, extrusion of them through the top parking deck, etc.). Does anyone have insight as to why they would have constructed the roof over the ramp portion like they did? Would it be to aid the future roof-top construction as to "cap" the garage below during construction or something?

 

 

I imagine the roof over the ramp of an uncovered top floor is to prevent ice/water buildup in winter. You see that on most parking structures on the medical campus. 

 

As for the old county morgue (520 King ave, Evans Hall). This facility is owned by the University, not the county. It is not being used for anything right now as far as I can tell. I heard through the grapevine that it was being considered for swing-space during medical education construction (Hamilton hall). The Hamilton project was paused after site prep due to the pandemic, however. 

https://www.osu.edu/map/building.php?building=995

 

^The extended columns have more to do with the construction of the post tensioned slab. They're not necessarily for additional floors.

Crane is coming down at the WMC garage. NW elevator/stair structure will be poured without the crane, it seems?

The "Old Cannon" roadway extension continues to see curbs, etc. going in. The sidewalk against McCampbell has been in for a while, forming the east side of the new road. I'm curious how long until we see the re-connection of 10th being constructed (or if they'll continue to keep that closed for the next 5 years as they demo the old Cannon garages and construct the new tower... I'd think they'd want to maximize access to the new garage once it's open this fall). 

Don't think I've seen this posted anywhere...

 

I came across a Request for Qualifications for a "ramped bridge" to the new medical tower. It includes a (presumably still conceptual) tower design, as well as an implication that the new garage might not be left as bare concrete:

 

 

I don't have a photo of this but they've begun adding brick to the columns on the south side and southwest corner of the garage.

Another look at the planned garage facade from the most recent Board of Trustees meeting:

 

That really does not look too bad to me.

 

I wish they would now give us a similar view of the planned hospital addition.

Edited August 7, 20204 yr by Toddguy

On 8/7/2020 at 4:31 PM, icheb42 said:

Another look at the planned garage facade from the most recent Board of Trustees meeting:

 

Any idea what the upper material is? The gold is a strange choice... You'd think they'd go silver to keep with scarlet and gray or something... It'd be great if there was nighttime interest, some lights, etc. Hell, with it facing 315 I'm surprised there isn't a video board of some sort (not saying I'd want to see that, just surprised they didn't take the opportunity).

No Crane and Garage Facade Progress (Thur. 8-13-20)

14 minutes ago, NorthShore647 said:

No Crane and Garage Facade Progress (Thur. 8-13-20)

Aren't they supposed to demolish that other garage and start the tower shortly after this garage is finished?  It doesn't seem like that is all that far away

The first rendering was released today. Must say it looks pretty amazing. 

 

Ohio State's Wexner Medical seeks OK to build $1.8B, 26-story hospital tower

 

Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center is seeking trustee approval to build a $1.8 billion, 26-story hospital tower, the largest capital project in university history.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/08/24/ohio-state-wexner-medical-plans-18b-tower.html

 

Here's the full resolution rendering, pulled from the Dispatch's article:

 

1 minute ago, .justin said:

Here's the full resolution rendering, pulled from the Dispatch's article:

 

Thank you for that. 

Wow this looks very tall and not bad at all-it looks better than the first tower. I like the top 'fin' piece-will look great if it is lighted up.  The fin also helps in the height department...just sayin' and all.  ?

 

*the garage looks good in that rendering as well.

Edited August 24, 20204 yr by Toddguy

Whoa.  This thing is going to look massive from 315.  The James looks tiny in that rendering.

Edited August 24, 20204 yr by TH3BUDDHA

1 minute ago, TH3BUDDHA said:

Whoa.  This thing is going to look massive from 315.  The James looks tiny in that rendering.

It will look MASSIVE! from 315-I totally agree. And it looks better than what I was expecting which is a shock this being Columbus and all...

 

I just went down 670 through downtown today and the building going on there is making such a big difference. When driving down 315 this thing will be very imposing.  Not only does it apparently make The James look tiny, it also makes the twin dunce dormitory towers just north of it look even more ugly lol (and I did not think that was possible).

Wow! That looks much better than what I was expecting! Hopefully the finished product can at least look 90% like the rendering. 

1 minute ago, cbussoccer said:

Wow! That looks much better than what I was expecting! Hopefully the finished product can at least look 90% like the rendering. 

Obviously they'll need to reduce it because it will cast a shadow on campus.  They'll be living in a total eclipse!

3 minutes ago, TH3BUDDHA said:

Obviously they'll need to reduce it because it will cast a shadow on campus.  They'll be living in a total eclipse!

Hey now...this is not one of the 'villes. This is OSU and they don't play that game! (and I love it!)  

22 minutes ago, Toddguy said:

Hey now...this is not one of the 'villes. This is OSU and they don't play that game! (and I love it!)  

 

But if someone in Clintonville stands on their roof, they might be able to see the top of this building, and we can't be having that. 

1 hour ago, .justin said:

Here's the full resolution rendering, pulled from the Dispatch's article:

 

 

Is it just me or do the background buildings look super squished vertically?

1 hour ago, Toddguy said:

Wow this looks very tall and not bad at all-it looks better than the first tower. I like the top 'fin' piece-will look great if it is lighted up.  The fin also helps in the height department...just sayin' and all.  ?

 

*the garage looks good in that rendering as well.

The architecture almost reminds me of streamline moderne buildings with the curved edges and “fin” at the top like that. 

Ohio State trustees unanimously OK $1.8B University Hospital tower for Wexner Medical Center: See new renderings

 

Construction is set to begin in October on the $1.8 billion, 26-story, 1.9 million-square-foot new flagship University Hospital of Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/08/26/ohio-state-trustees-ok-18b-hospital-tower.html

 

Love it!

Here is the view from the park to the south of The James as featured on https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2020/08/30/crane-watch-latest-on-27b-worth-of-construction.html

Beautiful! Columbus will now have a midtown skyline 

That view makes it look like a Vegas casino.

 

I'll take it.

21 minutes ago, ColDayMan said:

That view makes it look like a Vegas casino.

 

I'll take it.

Haha, the angle is certainly... interesting.

This view does seem to suggest that they're going to extend the podium of the James out over the vehicular drop-off. I hope that means another accessible roof garden, or at least a green roof. There will be a lot of patient rooms overlooking that lower roof.

Updated visitor arrival (James included)

 

From the intersection of 10th at the New Cannon Drive

 

From the park south of The James - not sure why they're showing the parking garage in this view bc it would be hidden behind McCampbell from this angle...

 

(Updated renderings from https://buildingthefuture.osu.edu/projects/inpatient-hospital)

Edited September 9, 20204 yr by jebleprls22

I noticed these applications popped up on the OEAAA website. One is for a 303' "Wexner Medical Center" building. The other three are for 600' tower cranes around the Wexner Medical Center. I would assume this is for the new hospital tower, but I'm kind of suprised that the building is only listed as being 303', and I don't understand why the tower cranes would be 600'.

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454219240&row=290

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454217391&row=289

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454217390&row=288

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454217385&row=287

Just now, cbussoccer said:

I noticed these applications popped up on the OEAAA website. One is for a 303' "Wexner Medical Center" building. The other three are for 600' tower cranes around the Wexner Medical Center. I would assume this is for the new hospital tower, but I'm kind of suprised that the building is only listed as being 303', and I don't understand why the tower cranes would be 600'.

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454219240&row=290

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454217391&row=289

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454217390&row=288

 

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/searchAction.jsp?action=displayOECase&oeCaseID=454217385&row=287

 

I just saw this myself! Great minds!

 

I think the listed height for the tower has to be a mistake. The James topped out at 297' tall and while floor count is not indicative of final height, the new tower is set to be 5 stories taller. Based on renders we have seen and the cranes clocking in at 600', no way the new tower is only 303'. My guess is it'll clock in closer to 400' (maybe 403' Ha) and this was simply a typo or incorrect submission. Keep and eye on the FAA site for this to be pulled or revised in the coming days. 

Just now, DevolsDance said:

 

I just saw this myself! Great minds!

 

I think the listed height for the tower has to be a mistake. The James topped out at 297' tall and while floor count is not indicative of final height, the new tower is set to be 5 stories taller. Based on renders we have seen and the cranes clocking in at 600', no way the new tower is only 303'. My guess is it'll clock in closer to 400' (maybe 403' Ha) and this was simply a typo or incorrect submission. Keep and eye on the FAA site for this to be pulled or revised in the coming days. 

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. There's no way, based on renderings, this tower will only be a few feet taller than the existing tower. Assuming the tower is actually going to be about 400', I could understand one of the three cranes reaching 600' feet. 

3 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

 

That's exactly what I was thinking. There's no way, based on renderings, this tower will only be a few feet taller than the existing tower. Assuming the tower is actually going to be about 400', I could understand one of the three cranes reaching 600' feet. 

 

Found it!

 

Looks like the actual proposed building plans list a height of 373' tall, making it roughly 80' taller than the James. This makes significantly more sense; looks like the FAA just got a typo of 303' vs 373'. 

 

1 minute ago, DevolsDance said:

 

Found it!

 

Looks like the actual proposed building plans list a height of 373' tall, making it roughly 80' taller than the James. This makes significantly more sense; looks like the FAA just got a typo of 303' vs 373'. 

 

 

Where did you find that? My sleuthing skills are decent, but I need to improve some more apparently haha.

This thing is going to be gigantic; also going to be interesting to see it from the shoe.

 

”Site-prep” has taken roughly 3 years and I haven’t seen a timeframe. Are we talking 2023? It felt like the James went up quick and then the interior took a while, so maybe 2024 all said and done?

36 minutes ago, wpcc88 said:

This thing is going to be gigantic; also going to be interesting to see it from the shoe.

 

”Site-prep” has taken roughly 3 years and I haven’t seen a timeframe. Are we talking 2023? It felt like the James went up quick and then the interior took a while, so maybe 2024 all said and done?

 

Right now the timeline has the tower opening early 2026.

A couple pics taken from North Cannon this morning. 

They are already starting site prep? Holy crap!

There's a huge trailer compound at King and Cannon. They paved the compound - usually these are covered in gravel.

I'm a bit surprised there doesn't appear to be much more than a single underground level. I might have expected 2 basement levels but perhaps that's me being used to old hospital designs where alot of things were put in basements including the cafeterias and such that have largely been moved upwards. 

Edited October 28, 20204 yr by DTCL11

At least part of the new parking garage is supposed to be open in November at which point they could start demolition of the 2 existing Cannon garages. Once those are down the site is largely cleared and ready for the new tower footprint.

4 hours ago, DTCL11 said:

I'm a bit surprised there doesn't appear to be much more than a single underground level. I might have expected 2 basement levels but perhaps that's me being used to old hospital designs where alot of things were put in basements including the cafeterias and such that have largely been moved upwards. 

 Given it's proximity to the Olentangy River, I'm not necessarily surprised.  I know Ohio Stadium dug too deep when making modification over the years and hit the water table, and the new Crew Stadium also had to modify their original depth due to the water table with the rivers there.  I'm not sure a deep basement is much of an option.  I could be way off base though, I'm not an engineer.  It just was a though given other things in that area.

Edited October 28, 20204 yr by Gnoraa

IIRC the James tower base was dug incredibly early and even had the design change while under construction. I remember them having to add additional structure to the foundation because the updated design had added more floors to the tower to account for growth. 

 

New project alert, OSU also filed engineering plans today for an 1,130 space garage at the corner of Cannon Dr & Medical Ctr Drive. Looks like the garage would replace an existing surface lot directly across from the 315N exit. 

 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Ohio+State+University+Wexner+Medical+Center/@39.9919299,-83.0198263,388m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb83eeb61208f4a1b!8m2!3d39.9946135!4d-83.0173843