Rendering via MKSK / CDDC.

Representatives from the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) and landscape architectural firm MKSK presented an update for the underground parking garage and greenspace project at COSI that was first announced earlier this year. A more detailed look for the new park was shown to the Downtown Commission, which would feature a variety of programmed areas and places for children and adults alike.

“We have divided the park into three pieces,” explained Brian Kinzelman, ‎Senior Principal and Co-Founder at MKSK. “The activity plaza with two buildings for a cafe and restrooms, plus a north green and a south green.”

While the park as a whole was received well, several Commission members expressed concerned with the functional architecture of the two plaza buildings.

“The formal entryway to COSI is important, but there’s no character to those buildings,” said Commissioner Bob Loversidge. “It feels like a lost opportunity.”

Kinzelman explained their thought process behind the design of the structures as well as the programmatic plan for the rest of the park. The North Green will feature themed gardens and educational opportunities that would tie into COSI while the South Green would feature playground features for children and open areas for adult programming like cornhole and lawn bowling.

Underneath the park, the plan shows a new plan for a two-level parking deck, which was previously planned as a single level. The format change was due to footprint restrictions bounded by underground utilities and flood plain considerations. The garage will still house 620 parking spots — a few more than the 602 spots that current surface lot provides. The garage entry would face Belle Street and access between the garage and park would come in the form of three staircases and two elevators, similar to what can be found at Columbus Commons.

Renderings presented today also show placeholder buildings to the west of the park that represent future development opportunities.

The Commission approved the park and garage plan today, with the caveat that the cafe and restroom buildings within the park get further architectural revision with a review slated for a future date. Preliminary construction is expected to begin very soon.

“Mobilization is scheduled to begin in September,” stated Amy Edwards Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of CDDC.

All visuals via MKSK / CDDC. Photo by Walker Evans.