Progress report: educational facilities and technology plan
Columbus State is grateful to Franklin County voters for their generous April 2020
vote of confidence in
Columbus State and its role in helping to ensure a stronger future for Central Ohio.
Proceeds generated by the approved bond issue (Issue 21)—in combination with existing
college resources and funding provided by the state, city, and private philanthropy—have
funded numerous campus improvements, with much more to come.
What follows is a review of bond-funded capital projects completed, scheduled, or
announced since the
approval of Issue 21. Costs noted here are approximate.
Recent Projects
NESTOR HALL AUDITORIUM RENOVATION
$11.4 MILLION
Originally built in 1992, Nestor Hall Auditorium showcases the college’s award-winning theatre productions, concerts, and other free performances and special events serving the community. Construction is underway to upgrade this 13,300-square-foot, two-story performing arts education space including lighting and acoustic system modernization, design improvements, finish and furnishing upgrades, and long-postponed maintenance. The newly restored auditorium will provide professional- caliber systems and spaces for career instruction in fine arts design, production, and performance, and it is scheduled for completion in fall 2024.
Center for Early Learning
$3.5 Million
Recognizing the need for supportive child care for student parents, the college is
opening The Center for Early Learning on the Columbus campus, with capacity for nearly
100 children. The center will be operated through an innovative partnership with community
Head Start provider The Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. The center
will launch with year-round service weekdays and explore further service options based
on initial enrollment feedback.
Roof Replacements
$5.8 Million
Roofs over Delaware, Eibling, and Nestor Halls on the Columbus campus and the Southwest
Center at Bolton Field (home to the college’s aviation maintenance program) are beyond
their usable
lifespans and will be replaced during 2023.
Davidson Hall Exterior Upgrades
$3 Million
In addition to a roof replacement, work to upgrade Davidson Hall’s windows and exterior
doors to protect its building envelope and prevent any water infiltration will be
completed in 2023.
Elevator Upgrades
$2.1 Million
To ensure accessibility in six older buildings on campus, all elevators in Aquinas,
Davidson, Franklin, Nestor, Madison, and Rhodes halls have been updated or replaced
entirely over the course of 2022-2023.
Semiconductor Manufacturing Space in Eibling Hall
$1 Million
Eibling Hall spaces will be renovated to create two labs for hands-on training in
mechanical, vacuum, and hydraulic systems and a third lab for direct use by industry
partners seeking to upskill engineering tech employees. Labs will be completed in
the spring and summer of 2024.
OhioHealth Center for Health Sciences
$67 Million
In June 2023, Columbus State and OhioHealth announced an innovative partnership to
address health care workforce shortages. Columbus State will use voter-approved bond
funding to build a new facility at an anticipated cost of $67 million. OhioHealth
will provide a $25 million endowment to expand and sustain academic programs and fund
heath care faculty and staff.
Parking Garage and Connecting Pedestrian Bridge Upgrades
$4 Million
The Columbus campus’s only parking garage has undergone major upgrades to incorporate
protective screening on all levels, IT and security infrastructure, and fiber connectivity
to the campus data center and police dispatch. Repairs to the garage and connecting
pedestrian bridge, originally built in 1998, were completed in 2023.
Union Hall Renovation
$18 Million
In addition to the introduction of the new OhioHealth Center for Health Sciences,
existing health care classrooms and labs in Union Hall will be renovated.
Deferred Maintenance, Classroom Upgrades, and Small Renovation Projects
$4.5 Million
This category includes once-delayed repairs to assets and infrastructure, classroom
upgrades to incorporate technology for hybrid/flexible course delivery, and small
campus improvements not otherwise noted here.
Up Next
Columbus State is planning and pursuing funding for the following projects.
Automotive Technology Expansion
Projected Cost: $13 Million Minimum Columbus State is expanding partnerships with the automotive industry, and the college is preparing to expand its automotive technology program to meet the growing need. This project will more than double the footprint of the automotive technology program, which is housed in Delaware Hall, to serve additional manufacturers and technologies.
Ohio Center for Advanced Technologies
Projected Cost: $80 Million
Columbus State is leading the way as the state prepares for an influx of high-tech
jobs in the semiconductor, electric vehicle, and biotech industries, along with continuing
demand for IT professionals across sectors. The Ohio Center for Advanced Technologies
is a central part of the regional effort to quadruple the talent pipeline for these
engineering technology jobs.
The proposed center, initially projected to be 60,000 square feet, will be a regional asset located on Columbus State’s downtown campus. The center will be home to Columbus State’s engineering technology programs and will be used by partners across the state and region for career awareness education, collaborative learning, and industry engagement.
Franklin Hall Deferred Maintenance and Classroom Upgrades
Projected Cost: $13.5 Million
Franklin Hall, home to Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies programs, TrIO programs,
and the Languages & Communications Department, was identified in a recent study as
a top priority for classroom and infrastructure upgrades, with needs including new
generators, boilers, chillers, air handling units, and roofing.