Columbus State provides update on capital improvement projects
Campus News | Monday, July 21, 2025
In response to rising construction costs, college ends plan for Career Development Center project in southeast Columbus to focus limited resources
After considering rising construction costs and other factors, Columbus State has made the difficult decision to end its previously announced plans to build a new 37-acre specialized training center on Columbus’s southeast side. The college will not complete the acquisition of the Career Development Center site and instead evaluate other options to support Columbus State’s construction trades and first responder programs.
Construction costs have dramatically increased since the Franklin County voters approved a $300 million bond issue for capital improvements in 2020, forcing the college to re-evaluate how to best use those dollars to support student success and the workforce needs of central Ohio. As part of that process, the college determined it was not financially feasible to establish a new-build Career Development Center while continuing to advance other priorities.
Columbus State continues to move forward with other major investments, including two projects that will start construction in coming months: OhioHealth Hall, a new academic building for healthcare education programs, and the complete renovation of Franklin Hall for modernized, dedicated general instruction space. Many other projects are also in the planning pipeline.
Columbus State remains committed to its robust construction trades and first responder education programs and is actively evaluating more cost-effective options to address its space needs. The college is grateful for the partnership of the many collaborators who were involved in the Career Development Center project.
Columbus State relies primarily on state capital funding and the Franklin County bond issue for campus improvements, and the college continues to pursue creative approaches to maximize the impact of those dollars. These include support from philanthropic sources, one-time state budget allocations, private sector innovation and other additive options.
For example, the college is expanding healthcare education to double the number of graduates over 10 years. OhioHealth Hall, which is funded through Franklin County bond dollars, will enable that growth, but the operational costs to expand healthcare education will be supported through a $25 million philanthropic contribution from OhioHealth. Franklin Hall’s renovation blends local bond funding with state allocations for general construction improvements.
Other future capital improvement investments include an Ohio Center for Advanced Technology that has received $20 million in state support to house engineering technician education programs, ongoing planning for an updated Automotive Technology education space, and ancillary supportive projects facilitated by the college’s independent real estate affiliate, Columbus State Community Partners. One such CSCP project already underway is Opportunity Pointe, which will provide workforce housing and 20 units of dedicated student housing adjacent to Columbus State’s main campus.
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