Columbus (Ind.) Redevelopment Commission selects Merritt Chase to redesign Downtown Entrance Plaza
The modern design legacy continues in Columbus; plaza redesign builds upon a Michael Van Valkenburgh landscape.
Columbus, Indiana — The City of Columbus Redevelopment Commission has announced that it has selected Indianapolis and Pittsburgh-based Merritt Chase to redesign a 1.5-acre plaza at the city’s most prominent entrance into downtown. The project is in collaboration with Columbus Design Institute, a technical service arm of Landmark Columbus Foundation.
The Downtown Entrance Plaza site is split north and south by a four-lane highway, State Road 46, and encompasses two adjacent memorials, including the POW/MIA/Law Enforcement Plaza and Robert D. Garton Veterans Plaza. The two halves form a circle, a key feature of the design completed by Michael VanValkenburgh and Associates (MVVA) in 2000. As a main entry into Columbus, approximately 28,000 vehicles pass through this plaza each day. Upon vehicular entry to downtown and the plaza, the Robert N. Stewart Bridge frames the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
The Entrance Plaza is currently overgrown and underutilized and encompasses urban furniture and walking paths. It serves as an important entryway into Downtown Columbus, and this project represents an opportunity to integrate this space into other current or future developments in the area.
The Columbus Redevelopment Commission recently constructed the 1821 Bicentennial Trail as the seminal project celebrating Columbus and Bartholomew County’s Bicentennial theme of “Common Ground”. The trail connects to the Entrance Plaza on the south and is considered, along with the Riverfront Project further south, a key addition to the Columbus Park Foundation’s trail system. When complete, it will connect the nearly 30 miles of trails that extend throughout the city.
Directly to the north of the entrance plaza is a 200-unit apartment complex known as The Cole, which boasts a 97% occupancy rate. To the east of the plaza is the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, located in the former Republic Newspaper building, which is one of the seven designated National Historic Landmarks in the city.
The project's goals are to transform the landscape into a more desirable space, collaborate with local partners and adjacent projects, improve key design features and connectivity, and ensure the project’s integrity and universal accessibility.
"We are honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the extraordinary design legacy in Columbus, Indiana,” said Chris Merritt of Merritt Chase, “We want to create a vision for the downtown entrance plaza that represents the values of good design that has shaped a commitment to civic excellence in this community."
“We are thrilled to move forward with Merritt Chase and welcome their contribution to Columbus. We are confident they will design a public space that is accessible and memorable to our community and stakeholders,” says Heather Pope, Director of the Redevelopment Commission, City of Columbus. “Also, collaborating with Columbus Design Institute on this project has brought forth remarkable design firms from which to choose.”
The project's next steps include a full site survey, a formal introduction by Merritt Chase at the June Redevelopment Commission meeting, and stakeholder visioning sessions. The project will kick off on the evening of June 24, with a community-wide engagement workshop, which will be open to the public.
For press, see this link to download support photography, including Merritt Chase headshots (credits: Polina Osherov), Downtown Entrance Plaza site photography (credits: Hadley Fruits for Landmark Columbus Foundation), and original design drawings of the Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates plaza (credits: Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives).
Media Contact
Jamie Goldsborough
jamie@landmarkcolumbus.org
About Redevelopment Commission, City of Columbus
The City of Columbus Indiana Redevelopment Department plays a key role in the enhancement of the quality of life of the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County. Commission staff work with the Mayor, City Council and members of the Redevelopment Commission to ensure that the City of Columbus develops projects that include: benefiting the overall community; retaining and creating good-paying jobs; supporting local businesses; providing quality housing options; redeveloping properties; and reinforcing our community’s commitment to innovative design and responsible development. columbus.in.gov/redevelopment
About Landmark Columbus Foundation
Landmark Columbus Foundation (LCF) is a public resource and thought leader for Progressive Preservation in Bartholomew County; an advocate and educator for and about cultural heritage; and a source of inspiration to advance good design for public benefit. To fulfill its mission, LCF accomplishes Progressive Preservation efforts that assist in caring for buildings, landscapes, and art in Bartholomew County. It serves to educate and advocate for these cultural resources through research, conservation, fundraising, and documentation. It also runs two programmatic arms, Exhibit Columbus and Columbus Design Institute. landmarkcolumbusfoundation.org
About Merritt Chase
Merritt Chase is a landscape architecture and urban design firm founded by Chris Merritt and Nina Chase. Their work focuses on designing culturally significant public spaces in complex social, ecological, and infrastructural contexts. Merritt Chase has been recognized nationally for their public space designs and research. The firm believes thoughtfully designed, beautiful, and connected public landscapes improve quality of life. Merritt Chase designs streets, plazas, gardens, parks, waterfronts, and campuses as shared spaces that connect communities. merrittchase.com
