Creative Campus Streetscape Columbus, Ohio

Services Provided

Urban Design
Documentation
Construction Administration

People Involved

Brian Kinzelman
Darren Meyer
Matt Manda

Pedestrian-oriented streetscape design defines a ‘creative’ arts and education district

From the 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan emerged an Idea to bring together various downtown institution stakeholders to knit together a mixed-use campus of ‘creative’ uses in education, culture, and employment. Built on several successful projects by two academic campuses (the Columbus College of Art & Design and Columbus State College) and planned expansion of the Columbus Museum of Art, the Creative Campus plan succeeded in meeting the individual needs of each entity and creating a more cohesive campus environment.

The Creative Campus Roadway Improvements Plan was the initial synthesis of this plan into feasible implementation. MKSK collaborated with DLZ Ohio to develop the preliminary engineering document for the streets within the downtown Columbus district that comprise the Creative Campus. The document provides an audit for existing conditions for transportation (roadways and pedestrian access routes), utilities (public and private), traffic (counts/capacity analysis, parking, walkways, vehicular and pedestrian circulation), and the streetscape.

The Creative Campus Streetscape implementation creates a pedestrian-friendly environment and reinforces the image of the Discovery District neighborhood as the setting for art and education. The goal of stakeholders to increase the safety and comfort of students, employees and visitors, is met through use of traffic calming measures and streetscape elements. The creative use of a gradient pavement pattern, plant material, flush curbs, landscaped medians, and decorative street furniture changes the character of the roadways from car-oriented environments to welcoming pedestrian-oriented neighborhood streets.