Columbus Convention Center Interior Rennovation
The Columbus Convention Center in Ohio is a 80,000 SF facility designed by Peter Eisenman in 1990. In 2014, lmn was hired as the architect to upgrade the existing facilities and add additional program to take the project above industry standards. The following features schematic development of one 25,000 SF Ballroom within the facility.
One of the biggest challenge in designing Ballrooms is the complex overlay of lighting, AV, fire protection and HVAC systems in the ceiling that allows the space to function under various events. The intent of design was to create a ceiling system that integrates all systems, obscure visibility of the ducts beyond and is 70% open for the sprinklers to stay above ceiling plane. These considerations underlined the origin of three design concepts;
1. Directional Geometry - The ceiling is composed of two contrasting grains, a larger grain that plays with the geometry of the building and a finer grain that gives it a materiality.
2. Cloud - The ceiling has a homogenous character made of repeating cells that follow a free flowing ceiling plane to emphasize head table locations.
3. Light boxes - The ceiling is made up of three systems one of which make up light boxes to emphasize head tables in different configurations.
The directional concept was initially conceived as a series of folded metal panels that are arranged to create a system that can be opaque to visually block the systems or open to drop pick points & lights. Through the process lmn consulted with several fabricators to balance cost, review impact of construction process and find opportunities to improve the design.
With careful consideration of the cost and client needs the team landed on a system where the larger grain is made up of a screen that layers to create a sense of movement and obscure the visibility of systems. A finer grain of folded metal panels running in opposite direction filled the gaps. The folds reinforce the movement along the larger grain.
Design Studies
