PHOTO TOUR: OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center
© Jim Steinkamp, Design by Gensler
The Neuroscience Wellness Center is part of the OhioHealth Riverside campus, offering a facility that extends neuroscience care beyond clinical treatment. The project opens to the landscape with large windows and outdoor terraces and is clad in a natural palette of materials, including local brick and reclaimed wood to blend into the context.
© Jim Steinkamp, Design by Gensler
The project’s simple geometric forms and large windows frame views to and from the building creating a building at home in its natural surroundings.
© Jim Steinkamp, Design by Gensler
Situated on the crest of a hill and bounded by a forest preserve, the building imbues a feeling of growth and vitality, creating a dynamic series of framed views to the landscape beyond.
© Jim Steinkamp, Design by Gensler
The Center provides seamless access to nature for those with low mobility with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large deck with ample forest views. The deck also allows members to enjoy outdoor fitness programs.
© Jim Steinkamp, Design by Gensler
An indoor walking track wraps a courtyard and community hearth space. The courtyard serves as one of the center’s outdoor amenities that can be used as a therapy space or visiting area for members and their caregivers.
© Jim Steinkamp, Design by Gensler
The studio for mind-body classes has direct access to the deck, which can also be used for outdoor programming. The floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the forest preserve provide an increased connection to nature.
© Jim Steinkamp, Design by Gensler
In addition to its exercise and strength purposes, the indoor walking track provides clear, light-filled wayfinding throughout the building.
Three years ago, OhioHealth (Columbus, Ohio) opened its Neuroscience Center at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Since then, the provider identified the need to grow its continuum of care for patients with neurological conditions—including Parkinson’s, stroke, and multiple sclerosis—by providing them with programs, equipment, education, and experts in prevention and rehabilitation to help manage conditions and live more active lives.
The OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center offers clinical, exercise, education, and emotional support programs to people living with neurologic conditions and their caregivers. The Neuroscience Wellness Center helps its members build strength, health, and community through its comprehensive mind-body-spirit care.
Situated upon a hill at the edge of a neighboring forest preserve, the 25,300-square-foot building designed by Gensler (Chicago) is located at the perimeter of the OhioHealth Riverside campus. The architecture is uniquely modest and understated for an active major medical campus and embraces its surrounding landscape by prioritizing the continuous access to daylight and inspiring views. The siting of the building and its environmentally focused design work to make the building feel bucolic and calm, allowing members to focus on their wellness and holistic health.
Organized around an outdoor courtyard and community “hearth” space, the interdisciplinary center includes wellness and exercise studios with overhead harnessing for extra balance; a quiet studio for mind-body classes with a deck that extends for outdoor programming; multipurpose fitness rooms; an indoor walking track; a café; administration workspace; and the OhioHealth John J. Gerlach Center, which includes cognitive neurology and geriatric assessment clinics.
Frictionless design considerations are integrated throughout the space, including abundant and controlled natural light and views, transition spaces between indoors and outdoors, subtle material transitions, and clear and intuitive wayfinding, all in support of creating a neuro wellness-centered, tranquil environment.
Project details:
Facility name: OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Completion date: November 2020
Owner: OhioHealth
Total building area: 25,300 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: Confidential
Cost/sq. ft.: Confidential
Architecture firm: Gensler
Interior design: Gensler
General contractor: Whiting-Turner
Engineering: Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers (MEP), Rubinos & Mesia Engineers (structural), EMH&T Engineers (civil)
Builder: Whiting-Turner
