My project is about marking the art district with a vertical building on the site. While the site was widespread and open to individual thought, my idea takes up less of a footprint than the entire Arps site. My project also aligns with the ideas of the future plan for building up High Street with a hotel and connecting it with a more urban feel. The stacking of programs for the arts district addresses campus as well as connecting the building to the Short North and downtown areas to serve both communities.
My building slips away from the footprint of Mershon Auditorium, which allows for a new faćade treatment of the south and east elevations of Mershon Auditorium. The grand lobby of my building would then combine with Mershon's current lobby and give way for more space. The existing entrance on the West face of Mershon would be relocated to the south face for a smoother transition of entry. There would also be an added student entry on the west side under the lattice to allow for privacy. The landscape on the south side of the building would recede into a lawn and the art's district would be marked with landscape elements that would allow for seating and risen greenery elements.
The program is divided into objects that separate themselves in order to create these lobby spaces to connect people in the public realm. There are staggered floors as well to allow for views across and down and up to view into the other lobby spaces. The circulation works as a series of escalators that bring the people up into the spaces.
