OSU Student Family Community Center

Located on the edge of campus in a relatively suburban setting – enlightened decisions on the behalf of the user groups allowed for the generation of a design with uniquely urban qualities. Nearly 30,000 square feet – this building will be home to a childcare facility, a community center for use by residents of The Ohio State University’s married student housing and the offices for the ACCESS Collaborative Program.

At the center of the building is a shared interior court – which will accommodate informal interaction of area residents as well as graduation events and indoor play on inclement days for some of the childcare center’s 120 kids. Nested within this, the largest space in the building, is also the smallest – a “child only” height room beneath the stair landing complete with its own exterior window.

Interior corridors become street-like in their ability to play host to numerous (and diverse) occupants and activities. The building is porous – horizontally and vertically. The generous use of interior and exterior windows opens the activities of the building to view and opens the building to the surrounding landscape. Cuts in the floor plates serve to integrate the two floors of the building.

The style of the building is respectful of the surrounding context. At the same time the siting and configuration of the building create a focal point within the surrounding buildings – and an icon for the complex as seen from a distance.

A principal of GRA+D architects was primarily responsible for the programming, design and construction documents for this project while employed by Acock Associates Architects. This project is reproduced here with their permission.