Preston Centre Columbus, Ohio

Role

Landscape Architecture

People Involved

Tim Schmalenberger, Karen McCoy, Matthew Kellogg, Tom Stephens, Lavonne Grosjean, Michael Davis, Rachael Harkleroad, Benjamin Kohls

Typology

Garden, Residential Development, Urban Design

Project Timeline

2016-2024

Collaborators

WC3Design

Sunken garden offers an urban refuge and relaxation space for residents and office workers of a revitalized urban mixed-use building

Preston Centre is the revitalization of the 1976, 24-story office tower, known as PNC Tower, in downtown Columbus, originally designed by Skidmore Owings and Merrill (SOM) architects. The revitalization entailed converting floors 9-23 to residential use while floors 3-8 remained as office use. The Lower Level, Ground, and Second floors were upgraded to provide discrete residential and office entrances while also expanding the at-grade retail connection and creating a more active public zone with a welcoming streetscape.

The site design replaced an existing 2-story black glass box frontispiece with a new sunken garden and a landscaped public and retail plaza. New, more welcoming residential, retail, and office main entries were created along Broad Street with materials and patterning designed to seamlessly blend the exterior and interior expression and draw in visitors, employees, and residents.

Preston Park Elevated Walk is the next stage of the development currently under construction. MKSK is leading the project, which includes the renovation of the existing enclosed elevated walkway over Capital Street, extending three blocks from S. Third to just east of S. Young Street and connecting the Preston Centre building with nearby Parking Garage. The High Line inspired linear park will not only create a new, elevated urban park but also will enhance development opportunities and residential living in this important central four-block area of the downtown core.

“Preston Centre demonstrates how landscape can transform the experience of an existing building and create a stronger sense of place for tenants and visitors. By reimagining underutilized spaces as a sunken garden, gathering areas, and a more welcoming arrival experience, the landscape becomes an extension of the building itself. The next phase carries that idea upward, transforming the elevated walkway into a distinctive linear garden that enhances connectivity, comfort, and the everyday experience of the property.”

- Tim Schmalenberger, FASLA, Principal, Landscape Architect, MKSK

"Design and construction of a basement level sunken garden and first floor plaza on and within remaining building structure is not without challenges, however the resultant site constraints inspired the overall garden and plaza forms in a very positive way. Designed with four season interest, the plaza, garden, overlooks, and improved streetscape plantings, repurpose urban hardscape into an engaging downtown green oasis. As designers we were fortunate to have a very visionary client, and the opportunity to create an urban space that offers surprise and delight to those that encounter it."

- Karen McCoy, FASLA, Principal, Landscape Architect, MKSK