The Hyatt Regency Hotel, which stands on the site of Columbus’ first train depot, was completed in 1979 as part of the city’s first convention facility – the Ohio Center. At 85,000 square feet, the Ohio Center was hailed as a point of civic pride, but it soon became too small to keep up with the city’s growth. As a result, it was the forerunner of today’s Greater Columbus Convention Center. Of course, another version of the story cites the unexpected demolition and loss of the Union Station in 1976 as providing the room for the merger of the Ohio Center with the later Convention Center. Chicago architect Daniel Burnham designed only two buildings in Columbus—the Wyandotte Building and the Union Station, and with the loss of the 1897 railroad depot in a “midnight” weekend demolition, citizens woke up to the possible loss of more historic buildings. Columbus Landmarks Foundation was founded in 1977 as a result of citizens coming together. Later New York architect Philip Eisenmann, creator of the Wexner Center for the Arts building, designed the current Convention Center, just a block north of where you stand. His design paid homage to the old station, especially the back of the building, visible from the Third Street overpass, which is reminiscent of the old train sheds. The architect commentator of the Washington Post, in the week when national attention turned to this unusual building, seemed to sum up both the color and the design of the “train sheds” when he called them “colliding Neco wafers.”
Hyatt Regency Columbus
350 N. High St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Franklin County
Please note: The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) does not own or manage any public art. For the purposes of this database many pieces were entered by the Arts Council while we continue to search for the appropriate owner/manager of the work and other information to complete the entry. The Arts Council has tried to gather all available information about the works in this database, however, we acknowledge there may be missing or inaccurate information. If you can help us correct any inaccuracies, or provide more complete information, we would be grateful. Please use “Something missing? Please send us a note” above.
Taking images of public art works and sharing your experiences is one of the most fun reasons to engage with public art. As a community, we care deeply about the artists who have contributed the artworks we enjoy every day. Please be sure to credit artists when you share your photos. If you have an interest in using public artwork present in this database for commercial purposes, please contact Jami Goldstein at the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Taking your own images of public artwork does not release you from the responsibility of artist credit and/or compensation.
This site is produced and managed by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and supported by the Ohio Arts Council and public art collections across the state. Contributors to the databases to date include collections held by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, City of Columbus, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dublin Arts Council, City of Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Department, City of Kettering, Downtown Mansfield Inc., Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Licking County Foundation, Ohio Arts Council’s Percent for Art program, Short North Arts District and the City of Sandusky. The database was funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Research and development support is provided by Designing Local, OSA Technology Partners and Columbus artist Stephanie Rond. The Columbus Makes Art campaign is a citywide, collaborative marketing effort designed to highlight the incredible talent of central Ohio artists. The Greater Columbus Arts Council is supported by the City of Columbus and the Ohio Arts Council.
To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
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