15th + High Columbus, Ohio
Services Provided
Urban Planning and Design
Placemaking
Public Realm Design
Landscape Architecture
Documentation
Services Provided
Jeffrey Pongonis
Andrew Overbeck
Tyler Clark
Ryan Schultz
Public space design for an urban university campus ‘front door’
University Square, at the corner of 15th Avenue & High Street, serves as the ceremonial ‘front door’ of The Ohio State University’s main campus. The vision for University Square began in 2013 and consisted of three key milestones throughout a decade long process: 1.) the 15th & High Framework Plan, 2.) Entitlements, and 3.) Project Design and Construction.
The 15th & High Framework Plan began in 2014 and provided a development framework and design guidelines for the University Square project area. The framework plan set the groundwork for redevelopment of this six-block area and was used to build support among the University, City, and surrounding neighborhood for the proposed rezoning, demolition, and reinvestment.
The Framework Plan was quickly followed by entitlements and final property acquisitions through 2016. This process included the development of a regulating plan to establish a definitive framework for street and alley alignments, development extents, and the University Square plaza.
University Square plaza and Phase 1 building design began in 2017 with construction beginning in 2019. University Square plaza serves as a neighborhood anchor and gathering space for students, residents, and visitors.
MKSK served as the planning and urban design lead on a multi-disciplinary team to create the 15th & High Framework Plan, worked closely with Campus Partners to develop the block and street layout through the regulating plan, and assisted with the entitlement process. MKSK remained engaged as key part of the urban design and landscape architecture team advancing the multiphase project through design and implementation of all public spaces, including the University Square plaza and surrounding streetscapes.
