The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as OSU, one of the nation’s top public universities, sought to create high-quality learning environments for interaction across all arts disciplines. An initial two-year master planning and programming process led by our team in collaboration with Robert A.M. Stern Architects, commonly referred to as RAMSA, expanded and consolidated the University’s Arts District.

The team’s design of the initial phase of implementation concentrated the Timashev Family Music Building and the Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts Building into new sister buildings that share the same architectural DNA.

Standing shoulder to shoulder at the threshold between city and campus, the forms greet and engage passersby at OSU’s main pedestrian entry. With performance and production spaces arranged to expose their interiors to the street and shared arts plaza, the design invites all to participate in the artistic endeavors within. Shared spaces provide opportunities for cross-pollination. Social spaces spanning the entire frontage of both buildings manifest as an architectural scaffold, an organizing element that reflects a similar feature at the University’s iconic Wexner Center for the Arts. Massing organized around large music and theater venues allows upper floors of each building to benefit from natural perimeter light and to house double-height volumes for moving image production sound stages and acting/rehearsal studios.

The project includes an addition to OSU’s Weigel Concert Hall with minimal renovations to existing rehearsal spaces and an update to the lobby as the connecting joint to the new Timashev School of Music Building. Along with this 8,000-SF renovation, the two buildings add nearly 196,500 SF of new arts program comprising a 400-seat proscenium theater, a 130-seat thrust theater, a 200-seat recital hall, a sound stage, and other spaces designed specifically for music, moving image production, and theater education. Exterior windows within performance spaces are acoustically rated and have blackout capabilities. The recital hall features warm woods that envelope the audience in diffused sound and clerestories that allow light to fall into the hall. Music from the recital hall can be piped into the shared arts plaza and visual media can be projected on the south wall of the Department of Theatre, also adjoining the plaza.

The design follows the University’s Green Building and Energy Policy standards.