COSI Campus COSI Foucault Pendulum

Conﬂuences and Connections:

A Sustainable Master Plan for the COSI Campus COSI Foucault Pendulum

COSI SUMMARY OF CONTENTS

1 3 4 5 7 9 15 17 19 MOVE 27 EXPLORE 33 RESTORE 39 CONNECT 45

Conﬂuences and Connections I N T R O D U C T I O N A N D ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

- COSI Identity Statement adopted 2011

COSI is a 320,000 square foot science and technology center located on 17 acres of city-owned property just across the Scioto River from downtown Columbus, Ohio. Since opening at its current site in 1999, COSI has provided students, teachers, children and families a place to explore science in an engaging and memorable atmosphere.

a comprehensive plan for the grounds that surround it. This need presents an opportunity to consider design, and promote sustainability. Whisper Dishes

COSI 1 With the support of the Robert E. Holmes fund of the Green

1. Demonstrate sustainable landscaping

2. Connect more closely to adjacent neighborhoods including Franklinton and

3. Incorporate teaching and learning spaces that expand COSI’s ability to deliver environmental outdoors.

Picnic Park and Rain Garden at COSI

Conﬂuences and Connections 2 COLUMBUS FOUNDATION

The Green Fund has provided philanthropic leadership in the areas of

the campus surrounding its building in ways that improve the environment in

of an Energy and Environment Area of Focus that has resulted in a rain garden, water and reduce waste.

the business community. COSI’s planning processes consider the needs of the

COSI 3 PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

[email protected] Brian Ashworth Landscape Architect Associate eburdock@mail.cosi.org Erik Burdock Director of Experience Design [email protected] Steve Langsdorf Vice President of Experience [email protected] Jerry Smith Principal, Smith\GreenHealth

Cindy Anderson Landscape Architect Mike Bongiorno Design Group Jason Kentner OSU Landscape Architecture Faculty Steve Kolwicz POD Design Darren Meyer MSI+KKG Rodney Myers Franklin County Veterans Memorial Ken Wilson Franklin County

Andy Aichele Business Strategist David Chesebrough President and CEO Samantha Frost Director of Events Claire Paul Project Manager Kim Kiehl Vice President of Strategy and COO

Conﬂuences and Connections 4 PROCESS SCHEDULE

i. July 8, 2011 COSI Leadership Brainstorm v. September 6, 2011 Brian Kinzleman of KKG viii. October 14, 2011 Mayor Michael B. Coleman Analysis and Synthesis i. October 15 - November 30, 2011 By Project Team December 19, 2011 i. December 20, 2011 Restaurant Planning with Sodexo iv. February 1, 2012 COSI Leadership Team i. March 1, 2012 By Project Team i. April 1-May 31, 2012 By Project Team

COSI 5 LOGIC MODEL

AUDIENCES people groups teams, people just adults and arriving Franklinton arriving at donors, and passing families to study & downtown COSI for a community through COSI’s arriving at sustainable residents visit and/or leaders grounds COSI for a visit sites program OUTPUTS

web page, apps, basic science spaces for on-site social media with signage other outreach exhibits and signage programs

KNOWLEDGE

sustainable sustainable basic science environmental sites principles sites demos concepts literacy

ATTITUDE COSI can/ I can should/does apply this I can make learning/doing demonstrate choices that science is fun sustainable site in my home/ principles work SKILLS

how to design for how to apply sutainable sites ability to think science skills sustainability principles at home/work

BEHAVIOR

support consider use the plan incorporate COSI’s environmental visit COSI to as a guide for sustainability impact of do more future projects into my plans

COSI BEHAVIOR

share invest in COSI to ensure and inspire excitement COSI’s social, economic about issues, make about COSI ad environmental informed decsions, and in the and science sustainability solve challenges community with others

Conﬂuences and Connections 6 THE URBAN CONTEXT

COSI is located on the west side of a bend in the Scioto River that is commonly referred to as the Scioto Peninsula. COSI shares the west and south of COSI are currently undeveloped. The Scioto Peninsula is linked to downtown by the Broad Street and Main Street bridges. In 2012, a third bridge is expected to be completed that will join Town Street on the west side of the river with Rich Street on the east side. These roads, along with the Olentangy bikeway, provide vehicle and pedestrian access to the Scioto Peninsula.

The Scioto mile opened in 2011 along the east bank of the Scioto River. It features a restaurant, fountains, and a pedestrian promenade with places to sit and is a vibrant space for people to gather outdoors. The Rich Street bridge will connect this area to the south end of COSI’s property providing easy access from the Scioto mile to COSI and Genoa Park. Genoa Park serves as a site for

To the west of COSI is the neighborhood of Franklinton. process for east Franklinton that includes an arts district. State Street is envisioned as an important pedestrian and vehicle pathway that connects the Franklinton arts district with COSI and the Scioto Peninsula.

COSI 7 Various plans for the land between COSI’s parking lots and the development of the former Health Department site as a green space or parkland, a pedestrian bridge from the Arena District to Veterans Memorial, and new development adjacent to Veterans Memorial.

downtown visitors, as well.

Potential Development at Municipal Light

Proposed Pedestrian Bridge

Veterans Memorial Re-Designed Battelle Park

COSI Scioto Mile

Arts District New Bridge Connection Potential Parkland

Franklinton Connection

Dam Removal - River Changes

Dodge Park Revitalizations

Potential future projects surrounding COSI

Conﬂuences and Connections 8 SUSTAINABILITY

In 2009, the Energy and Environment Strategic Area of Focus was created as part of COSI’s strategic plan. Energy humans use energy and the impact of that use. Environment means exploring how living and non-living elements are interconnected through cycles, systems, and processes. The overarching goal of the new exhibits and programs developed as part of the Energy and Environment Strategic Area of Focus is for people to understand the world and feel connected. how COSI operates. Numerous projects have focused on made possible with funding from the State of Ohio. COSI has renovated its HVAC system and reduced its electricity usage $100,000 per year. Other projects have focused on waste - Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman

COSI 9 Big Science Park’s POD House and Ohio Prairie

Conﬂuences and Connections 10 SUSTAINABILITY

to the surrounding community. As COSI and the Columbus community embrace sustainability more completely,

The term ecosystem services describes the goods and services provided by healthy ecosystems, such as the of these services has led to acknowledgement of the way erosion control.

COSI 11 thereby increase the ecosystem services that they provide, whether that development is a rain garden, a parking lot, or

For example, water on the site can be managed

interdisciplinary partnership of the American Society of Center, and the United States Botanic Garden, has spent several years developing guidelines for sustainable land use

and well being, SITES has developed benchmarks to guide development on a given site. SITES areas of research

Conﬂuences and Connections 12 SUSTAINABILITY

site to its surroundings.

COSI Spectrum Tree

COSI 13

The SITES Performance Benchmarks will inform future design and

Pre-Design Assessment and Planning Site Design Water associated with the hydrology on COSI’s campus Human Health and Well-Being body of knowledge on a long-term sustainability

Conﬂuences and Connections 14 G U I D E L I N E S F O R FUTURE PROJECTS

and ensure that the need that led to the planning process will be

and demonstrate

of the community by providing safe and

to inspire an elements that engage people with the local landscape and the science concepts that can be observed and demonstrated in our home place.

COSI 15 by ensuring the comfort and safety of pedestrians while providing experiences that are both fun and

enhance visibility while ensuring reasonable

elements is illustrated below.

COSI GUIDELINES 1 Restore 2 Contribute to 3 Advance COSI’s 4 Enhance the visitor 5 Support COSI’s Ecosystem the health and mission experience business plan Services well-being of the community

L E S I T E S I N I N A B I T I A S T A T I V S U E S

MOVE EXPLORE RESTORE CONNECT

Conﬂuences and Connections 16 THE PLAN

- Planning Charrette Participant

plan was developed that separates the campus into four Zones. Each Zone has a primary insight into how future physical development on the COSI campus should be approached.

MOVE

EXPLORE is primarily about learning outdoors

RESTORE

COSI 17

CONNECT the arts district in Franklinton visible from the Scioto Mile

COSI Zones

Conﬂuences and Connections 18 MOVE parking and circulation

This area includes the two paved parking lots on the east streets that provide access to COSI are Washington Blvd. on the east side and Belle Street on the west side. Driveways from Belle Street tree-shaded allees used by vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. The Broadwalks provide access for emergency vehicles.

Most visitors to COSI arrive by automobile. They park in the Belle Street lots and walk to the west entry of COSI. During busy days, parking may extend to other nearby lots. Some groups to the south lot and the south Broadwalk. Automobiles are directed to the north lot and the north Broadwalk.

COSI 19 Washington Blvd., on the east side of COSI, allows Machines, Farm Days and private rentals. Most groups side of the building.

feel welcome and consider return visits passengers on both sides of the building of revenue for COSI bridge and a pedestrian bridge between the Arena

Conﬂuences and Connections 20 MOVE parking and circulation

COSI campus will be complicated and involve City agencies. While the trend in urban planning is moving away from one way streets, Belle Street and especially Washington nature of Broad Street as a major thoroughfare makes that challenging.

the City of Columbus to be bike friendly places. Improving for improving Broad Street and making it a truly walk-able corridor.

and bicycle pathways? Genoa Park

COSI 21 consider the redesign of these parking lots and pathways?

repave the two asphalt parking lots and its desire to add and provide the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles create an opportunity for redesign of the parking lots to

Proposed parking lot re-design incorporated with proposed circulation pattern

Conﬂuences and Connections 22 MOVE parking and circulation

system installed underground to support the current HVAC

biking tour suggests ways to enhance pedestrian safety and the parking spaces on an east/west grid with pedestrian pathways to the Broadwalks will make the trip from the parking lot to the building safer and more pleasant. Clear fountains and compressed air pumps will encourage bicycle Permeable Grass Pavers

COSI 23 The north and south Broadwalks will be designated as pedestrian and bike paths, as well as access for emergency vehicles. The asphalt surfaces will be replaced with a permeable material to allow storm water to percolate elements along these walking paths will pique interest and the west side of the building will be accomplished by linking vehicles to use the Broadwalks.

south. This plan also suggests that Belle Street become one- way headed north. In order to connect with the proposed needs to be added to Broad Street at the end of the north broad walk.

Scioto Mile Cyclist and a Geothermal Cooling Bed Installation

Conﬂuences and Connections 24 MOVE parking and circulation

ecosystem services

human health and well-being

COSI’s mission

visitor experience

business plan

COSI 25 MOVE Precedent Images

Conﬂuences and Connections 26 EXPLORE broad street lawn

This area includes the lawns visible from Broad Street that wrap around the east and west sides of COSI, as well as the small lawn just south of the main entry. The LED billboard sign is located at the northeast corner of this and accessible only to paid COSI visitors, is adjacent to this area on the east side.

Garden installed near the main entry on the west side COSI’s roof and a Picnic Park adjacent to it. COSI’s Energy The broad sweep of lawn punctuated by trees is interrupted by the plaza at the main entrance to COSI on the west side of the building. The lawn slopes down sharply to - Planning Charrette Participant

COSI 27 meet the north and south Broadwalks and slopes up sharply to meet Broad Street on the north and Washington Blvd. on the east. An electrical tunnel is buried approximately three feet deep from Broad Street to Town Street approximately 15 feet away from the west facing façade of the building. Two storm water drains are located in the low lying areas at the north end of the lawn.

relocated to Washington Blvd. overwhelm the building twelve foot wide corridor be preserved adjacent to the building

Conﬂuences and Connections 28 EXPLORE broad street lawn

The north end of the lawn is not as usable as other areas busy road and its distance from doors into the building. However, look and feel of Broad Street.

installed on the south lawn. The fence that surrounds Big Science

the Science Park at the New York Hall of Science, the fence being installed at the Columbus Museum of Art and the Brides Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory. It will be important to consider maintenance when designing garden spaces.

Living Fence as an Exhibit

COSI 29

ideal place to demonstrate sustainable landscaping through the be enhanced through these new planted areas and concepts like micro-climates and habitats for wildlife can be explored. Careful choices of plants should reduce the maintenance burden.

Elements from Big Science Park, like the whisper dishes and pipe organ, could be located in this zone along with new exhibits that pre-visit excitement and help people know what is happening here in the same way that the Rain Garden sign helps people understand how a rain garden works. These experiences bring COSI’s mission outdoors. They are a teaser of the experiences inside the building.

While much of the lawn will remain in this zone, there is linked together through winding paths, that accommodate special through the campus. COSI Picnic Park

Conﬂuences and Connections 30 EXPLORE broad street lawn

ecosystem services

human health and well-being

COSI’s mission

visitor experience

business plan

COSI 31 EXPLORE Precedent Images

Conﬂuences and Connections 32 RESTORE riverfront plaza

This zone is located in the southeast corner of COSI’s grounds, across Washington Blvd. from Genoa Park. The Plaza Deck on the mezzanine level of COSI’s building is included in this zone. COSI’s Atomic Café can be reached through this side of the building and is open to the public without paying admission to COSI, however, this is not a well known fact and there is no visible presence that would improve this side of the complement the work that The grassy area shaded by mature trees to the south has been done on the Scioto of the Central High School part of COSI and the Plaza Deck mile.” - Planning Charrette Participant to many factors, including lack of easy access to the main part of the building and the presence of cooling towers opportunity to link COSI one of the most spectacular views of downtown in the City. within the emerging The opening of the Rich Street bridge in 2012 will - Planning Charrette Participant

COSI 33

Washington and Town will become public park of some kind

Overcoming the barriers presented by this zone will

In order to make it easy to get to the restaurant or event space, new elevators would need to be installed inside COSI’s building. A ramp from street level and an elevator would need to be installed outside.

Conﬂuences and Connections 34 RESTORE riverfront plaza

The cooling towers generate a great deal of noise which discourages use of this end of the building.

Deck, the angled part of COSI’s roof could support an extensive green roof that would be visible from downtown. Elements on the Plaza Deck could demonstrate green roof technology.

best of living in Columbus?

reconnect with nature?

Deck with a spectacular view of downtown, and a respite garden are the key elements of this zone.

that people like. The Plaza Deck is connected to the building through City View, which is currently used primarily for events. A October. There is room for the needed equipment in City View

COSI 35 include rethermalizing equipment and be connected with the main from the Atomic Café and more connected with the in house

more permanent event space could be included. Gardens, benches, and other roof structures will break up the expanse of concrete and Restrooms would need to be added, along with elevator access.

for the family friendly Atomic Café. A respite garden that includes other elements could be sited along the slope from Washington

In order to make these ideas a reality, the cooling towers

Conﬂuences and Connections 36 RESTORE riverfront plaza

ecosystem services

human health and well-being

COSI’s mission

visitor experience

business plan

COSI 37 RESTORE Precedent Images

Conﬂuences and Connections 38 CONNECT campus green

gravel lot on the west side of Belle Street that extends to Starling Street, and the English Plaza down to Genoa Park on the east side of the building.

Project, and for rental events like Red, White, and Boom. The gravel lot is used as parking for buses. It is also the site of a building the currently houses COSI’s grounds crew, planning element that has vehicles, and equipment. The English Plaza and Washington Blvd. on the east side of the building are home to two popular annual COSI the immediate campus and views of downtown and the Scioto River in front of the classic - Planning Charrette Participant

COSI 39 façade of the Central High School building give it a unique appeal. The rental income from these events contributes to

Another issue for this zone is that, from the Scioto Mile, there is nothing to indicate that a science center is located in this building.

surrounding lots and from the Franklinton Arts District movement across railroad tracks

Conﬂuences and Connections 40 CONNECT campus green

On the west side of COSI, the proximity to State Street COSI can engage youth and adults in the way this zone looks and train bridges can become a design element instead of a barrier.

as Veterans Memorial.

Peninsula in ways that support all of us?

COSI can meet several needs of the Scioto Peninsula as a whole. It will create an important connector to Franklinton, supply much needed space for programs and special events, promote both COSI’s provide a neighborhood geothermal system.

COSI 41 Open green space would be a great amenity for the entrance to COSI. For any new development surrounding the retail establishments, an open green space will have strong visual appeal. Underneath this green space a horizontal the need for cooling towers on the east side of COSI, making plans for a restaurant on that side of the building feasible Franklinton, while science themed sculptural elements like Campus Green.

With the right type of surface infrastructure, the visitors and residents play outdoors or it can accommodate Adding a structure that creates shade near the pick-up and

On the east side of COSI, an iconic feature that Campus Green Rendering

Conﬂuences and Connections 42 CONNECT campus green

ecosystem services

human health and well-being

COSI’s mission

visitor experience

business plan

COSI 43 CONNECT Precedent Images

Conﬂuences and Connections 44 C O N C L U S I O N AND NEXT STEPS

In this year of the bicentennial of the City of Columbus, Franklinton are part of what is unique about Columbus and are all integral to its future.

The inclusive nature of the planning process revealed revealed a number of challenges presented by the COSI campus.

The site must be automobile-accessible but not at the expense of a unique pedestrian experience. The building and its challenges us to celebrate a sustainable urban system in a way that

The massive scale of the site presents another challenge. People experience the site on a human scale but how can those plans that are truly sustainable for our community requires the

further development of the grounds around COSI and suggests

COSI 45 needs of COSI’s neighbors and of the community as a whole. It is projects can be undertaken as funding and other resources become available. Some of the projects can be undertaken independent of any other project, while others will be dependent on precursor study is needed to determine feasibility and cost.

The SITES, www.sustainablesites.org, provides a best COSI as an innovator in the community. Proposed campus projects can look to the SITES Analysis and Planning process for and improve the body of knowledge on long-term site sustainability in urban environments.

concrete next steps for the COSI Team. It acknowledges any predecessor projects, notes which of the guiding principles the seek partnerships and funding to carry out the projects as the larger

Conﬂuences and Connections 46 C O N C L U S I O N AND NEXT STEPS PROJECT COST ESTIMATED

15,000 - 30,000 $ 30,000 - 60,000 $$ 60,000 - 100,000 $$$ 100,000 - 250,000 $$$$ > 250,000 $$$$$

Project Cost List PROJECT ZONE PREDECESSOR COST ESTIMATED SERVICES ECOSYSTEM HUMAN HEALTH MISSION COSI PLAN BUSINESS COSI VISITOR EXPERIENCE

1 campus green design connect $$ 2 campus green build connect 1 $$$$$ 3 move $ 4 connect $ 5 dock improvements and screening $$ 6 connect $$ 7 expand Big Science Park explore $$$ 8 extend Picnic Park explore $ 9 connect $$$$$ 10 move 19 $$$ 11 landscape design explore $$ 12 explore 10 $ - $$$$ 13 new rain garden explore $ 14 parking lot design move $$ 15 move 13 $$$$$ 16 restore $$$ 17 relocate Big Science Park elements explore 10 $$$ 18 respite garden restore $$ 19 restaurant on Plaza Deck restore $$$$$ 20 resurface broadwalks move $$ 21 move 14 $$ 22 explore 11 $$ 23 restore 17 $$ 24 connect 2 $$ Future Project List

COSI 47 A Swift River Cruiser in the Ohio Prairie. In Native American folklore, the dragronﬂy symbolizes change!

Conﬂuences and Connections 48 333 West Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 cosi.org

Conﬂuences and Connections