Category: Blog

The stories inside the library

by Jennifer Bobbitt, CPSM

“Does anyone ever realize life while they live it… every, every minute?” — Our Town

Some towns reveal themselves in landmarks. Others reveal themselves in the people who gather, linger, and return. Canal Winchester has always been a place shaped by connection, and the new library feels like a natural expression of that spirit. Step inside, and it becomes clear this is more than a place to find books. It is a place where daily life comes into focus.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

Libraries hold many stories.  From the books on the shelves to the people who move through the space. It holds imagination, facts, relationships, quiet hopes, and the ordinary moments that give a community its character. In the library wonder sits beside stillness under the roof of belonging.

Conversation shares space with concentration. Play unfolds within view of rest. The building supports all of it without asking anyone to explain why they came or what they need. A true third place does more than welcome people in. It makes room for the many ways they arrive: curious, tired, playful, focused, social, quiet. It invites gathering without pressure, learning without pretense, and belonging without explanation. In Canal Winchester, the new library feels less like a destination and more like a shared living room for the town. During several recent photo shoot visits, the building revealed its real story not through architecture alone, but through the people moving through it: Together, they gave the space its pulse. This is their story.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“All children, except one, grow up.” —Peter Pan

Every Tuesday, story time transforms the library into something wonderfully alive. The walls of the three flex rooms open wide, tables and chairs line the perimeter, and the room fills with the joyful energy of toddlers, infants, and the adults caring for them. Sunlight washes across the space as mothers, fathers, and grandparents find their place. Some of the kids recognize each other and hug or do a happy dance. Around them, caregivers exchange smiles, nods, and a quiet sense of recognition born from the shared rhythm of caring for young children. Maybe this is part of a weekly routine. Maybe it is a special outing. Some of the very young wake up when the singing and movement begin. I imagine how wonderful it must feel to be asleep and wake up in this magical place, surrounded by joy. There is no transaction to rush, no expectation to spend, no need to find just the right channel. There is only time to wander, dance, laugh, and let memory quietly take shape.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Just keep swimming.” — Finding Nemo

There is a large double-sided fish tank in the children’s area that gets a lot of attention. Two children stand on opposite sides, following flashes of color and movement, noticing both the fish and each other through the glass. It is a small moment, but it says a great deal about what makes a library memorable. Discovery begins long before a child sits down with a book. It begins with curiosity, delight, and the feeling that this is a place where paying attention is rewarded. Nearby, a mother balancing a coffee and a toddler turns for a moment to help another child. In that brief pause, the toddler at the tank spots a book displayed at just the right height, pulls it from the shelf, and hurries back to her mom. It is a quiet reminder that in a well-loved children’s space, wonder and reading are never far apart.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Let the wild rumpus start!”— Where the Wild Things Are

Nearby, a young brother and sister turn S-shaped seating into a landscape for hide-and-seek. Their movement feels natural here, not disruptive. They take turns hiding in different seating areas, counting quietly before announcing: ready or not, here I come! Did the interior designer envision this scenario when this unique piece of furniture was placed next to the rows of books? The space naturally absorbs their energy instead of pushing it away. The design leaves room for joy; it tells children and families they are not simply being accommodated. They are welcome. The library becomes part of childhood not only as a place for learning, but as a place that feels good to remember and seek.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life…”— Little Women

Inside the open entrance, one woman checks out a stack of breadmaking books. Is she learning something new or returning to something familiar? Is this the day she woke up and decided to make her dreams about owning a bakery a reality? The stack of books is larger than several loaves of sourdough. She’s likely on the cusp of something great, something life-changing. Or, maybe she’s entering her bread era. The moment is modest, yet it reflects one of the library’s most generous strengths. It supports the kinds of learning that do not always announce themselves as ambition. The library honors all of it, offering access, inspiration, and possibility in equal measure.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“You have been my friend.”— Charlotte’s Web

Across the room, two women lean over a laptop in deep conversation. They are surrounded by shelves of fresh books in front of large windows, filling the space with light on a cold morning. Maybe they are working through a practical problem. Maybe they are planning something important. Maybe one is helping the other navigate a difficult season. The beauty of the library is that it holds space for these moments, too. It is not only a place for individual use. It is a place where people can think together, support one another, and sit with both purpose and care. In that way, the library strengthens the community not only through what it provides, but through what it allows to unfold.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Stay gold…” — The Outsiders

The teen area does not fill all at once. It gathers slowly, shaped by the rhythm of school days, rehearsals, and after-school commitments, just as library staff had described. Then, almost without notice, it rumbles to life. A few teens settle in with homework. Others drift toward games, crafts, or conversation. Some seem like close friends. Others may simply know this is a good place to land before heading home. What matters is not how they arrived, but how easily they belong once they do. They inhabit the space with a comfort that feels both ordinary and natural. Young people need places where they do not feel like outsiders, where they can be visible without feeling watched, social without being managed, and independent without being isolated. They need places where they are not treated as a problem to be solved, but as part of the community’s story. A library that makes room for that offers something lasting: trust. Later, a mother appears carrying a few books and a younger sibling, softly reminding one teen it is time to go. As they exit, a wave and a smile mark their departure. And so, the friendship is acknowledged.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Call me Ishmael.”— Moby-Dick

In a single study space, an older man rests alone with his open laptop, his coffee thermos, and his backpack. He may be reading, or maybe he is a famous author about to complete his next great book. His worn shoes and silver flowing hair indicate he likely has many great stories to tell. Whatever brought him there, the space meets him with dignity. Not everyone comes to the library for activity or interaction. Some come for calm, privacy, and relief. The library honors that too. It recognizes that community is not only built through conversation. Sometimes it is built by simply being welcoming.

“We all know that something is eternal.” — Our Town

Libraries are often described by what they hold, but just as often, they are defined by how they make people feel. Part of that feeling comes from the staff, not simply as caretakers of the space, but as hosts, neighbors, and part of the community itself.

During one of the photo shoot visits, a conversation about shared West Virginia roots drifted across the front desk, and a staff member nearby joined in. He was from the same hometown. The exchange moved quickly into the kind of shared memories that make a place feel instantly smaller and more familiar: the landmarks, routines, and local details that linger long after people leave. It was a quiet reminder that communities are often held together by invisible strings, the unexpected points of connection that make strangers feel less like strangers. That sense of connection echoed elsewhere. The photographer pointed out his wife’s artwork prominently on display inside the library. Around the room, staff greeted patrons not with stiffness or correction, but with the easy attentiveness of people who want others to feel at ease. They were not there simply to manage the space. They were helping shape its spirit.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

These are not just stories about people in a library. They are scenes from a town learning how to hold many kinds of people well. Places like this matter. They hold the everyday moments that help people feel connected to where they live and to one another. They offer room for discovery, comfort, conversation, and pause. They remind us that belonging does not come from sameness. It comes from being welcomed as you are.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

The AI Revolution: Rethinking the Function and Design of Laboratories

by: Kathleen Kelly, MBA, AIA, LEED®AP

The modern laboratory is being radically transformed by the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into scientific research. The way laboratory spaces are used, designed, and experienced by researchers has completely changed, going beyond simple technological advancements. Labs are shifting from conventional bench-dominated workspaces to adaptable, hybrid settings combining computational power and physical experimentation as AI systems grow more complex. The modern laboratory now contains more equipment than people, more data than activity, and more square footage than engagement. AI will change science; yet the laboratory is largely designed for past processes.

Changing the Way Laboratory Operations Are Performed

There is a growing mismatch between how labs are planned and how scientists use space. The spatial consequences of technology in laboratories are not new; the shift is obvious when one moves through thousands or even millions of square feet of wet laboratories, strangely void of human presence. Benches sit idle while autonomous results are dumped to a desktop located elsewhere in the building. Against this backdrop, the most obvious shift in modern labs is the widespread use of AI-powered automation and robotics. The time-consuming, repetitive tasks previously occupying a large portion of researchers’ schedules have or will be replaced by these systems. Routine data collection, sample preparation, and pipetting tasks, previously requiring constant human attention, are now handled by AI, freeing scientists’ minds for more complex tasks like designing experiments and interpreting results. The trend’s cutting edge is the rise of “self-driving labs,” where AI systems can suggest experimental protocols, execute them on robotic platforms, and analyze the results with little human intervention. Because of this change, the researcher’s job has not disappeared but changed from technician to strategic thinker.

AI also greatly impacts data analysis. Scientists used to spend weeks or even months manually processing large, complicated datasets. Now they can do it in hours or minutes. AI-powered analytical tools are great at finding subtle patterns in large datasets, which human analysts struggle with. AI has the potential to not only speed up current processes but also to solve problems once thought to be long out of reach. For example, AlphaFold, an AI system using amino acid sequences, can predict 3D protein structures with amazing accuracy. These systems work together with scientists instead of just being tools. They examine microscopy images, identify links across data sources, and even formulate new hypotheses based on what has already been found.

This new technology has also led to new ways of working. Remote and hybrid laboratory work was once considered impossible for practical experimental science, but it is becoming increasingly feasible. Researchers can now access data streams from anywhere, keep an eye on experiments already underway, and change protocols in real time. AI systems act as watchful guardians, alerting scientists to strange things or important experimental milestones, no matter where they are in the world. This flexibility makes it easier to collaborate with scientists from around the world and improves work-life balance.

Restructuring the Physical Laboratory

The architecture and design of laboratories must adapt to these operational changes. Reallocating space has become a top priority. A more varied spatial ecosystem is replacing the traditional dominance of individual workstations as routine bench work is automated. Computational workstations with strong visualization capabilities, flexible zones adapting to change as technology advances, centralized instrument cores with advanced robotic systems, and collaborative spaces for experimental brainstorming and result interpretation are all common features of modern labs. A fundamental change in how scientists spend their time is reflected in this reallocation: less pipetting and more brainpower.

The infrastructure needed to support AI-driven research has also changed. To manage the enormous data sets produced by modern instruments, labs require robust data networks with reliable cloud connectivity. To power servers, AI workstations, and arrays of automated equipment, electrical capacity must be significantly increased. As robotics and computer equipment generate large amounts of heat needing to be controlled to safeguard delicate experiments and equipment, climate control systems are facing new difficulties. Most significantly, laboratories can now adapt to the rapid pace of technological change without requiring complete renovation thanks to the increasingly important principles of modular design.

The line separating “dry labs,” which are devoted to computation and analysis, from “wet labs,” where physical experiments take place, is becoming increasingly hazy. It is becoming commonplace for scientists to have mixed-use areas, allowing them to move easily between pipettes and processors. The fact contemporary research rarely distinguishes clearly between experimental and analytical phases is reflected in this integration; instead, experimental design is informed by computation, and experimental results are immediately fed into computational models in an iterative cycle.

The Future Laboratory

More significant advancements are anticipated in the AI-enabled lab in the future. Machine learning algorithms will optimize lab layouts by examining workflow patterns and recommending the best locations for equipment to reduce motion waste and increase productivity. By anticipating equipment failures before they occur, predictive maintenance systems could significantly reduce costly downtime and unsuccessful experiments. To train new researchers, develop intricate protocols, and facilitate remote collaboration that feels remarkably realistic despite physical distance, virtual and augmented reality technologies could create immersive spaces.

The driving force behind AI presence in scientific research is not only efficiency but making labs more adaptable, effective, and essentially human-centered. These redesigned spaces free scientists to focus on the uniquely human contributions to research, creativity, intuition, problem-solving, and the imaginative leaps that drive discovery by assigning routine tasks to AI systems. The physical laboratory is changing from a hub of all scientific activity to an advanced hybrid environment linking computational power with practical experimentation. For the scientists who work in these re-imagined spaces, this evolution promises not only to speed up scientific discovery but also to make the research process more intellectually stimulating. As AI develops, the future laboratory will be designed to amplify how the space enhances human creativity, judgment, and discovery rather than for the equipment it houses.

Designing Solutions to Address the Nursing Shortage

by Jennifer Bobbitt, CPSM

Every year, the U.S. needs nearly 189,100 new RNs. Yet in 2023 alone, more than 65,000 qualified applicants were turned away- not for lack of interest, but because programs lacked seats, faculty, and simulation space. The shortage isn’t about motivation; it’s about capacity.

The good news: capacity can grow. Across the country, nursing schools are expanding enrollment through smart renovations and well-planned additions that increase seating capacity without shutting down classrooms. This is where facilities shift from “real estate” to strategy—and where Wellogy helps schools design the high-fidelity labs and flexible classrooms that make growth possible.

What follows: the challenge in numbers, the opportunity to grow or launch programs, how Ohio is responding, and how Wellogy can help.

THE CHALLENGE (national view, right now)

There’s intense, sustained demand for nurses—and a training system straining to keep up. The numbers underscore the opportunity:

Interest is healthy. If we add seats, faculty pipelines, and modern learning environments, we can materially grow the supply.

THE OPPORTUNITY (grow existing programs—or launch new ones)

With the right plan, you can expand capacity without pausing instruction or breaking the budget.

How long does it take?

HOW OHIO IS RESPONDING

Across the state, leaders are treating facilities as workforce strategy—expanding seats, upgrading simulation, and strengthening pathways to practice.

HOW WELLOGY CAN HELP

We help clients add capacity—quickly, safely, and within real budgets.

What we deliver

Your next step
Whether you’re increasing seats in an existing program or launching a new site, we’ll help you align people + partnerships + place—so every square foot teaches, and every learner is practice-ready on day one.

Sources

Designing the Future: Wellogy’s Leading Role in OSU’s Research and Innovation Spaces

Innovation is not just about the next big idea—it’s about creating environments that foster discovery. At Ohio State University, Wellogy is leading multiple transformative projects that push the boundaries that drive research and advanced manufacturing. From battery technology to microelectronics and geological hydrogen research, these projects are shaping the future of science and technology while reinforcing Wellogy’s commitment to strategic collaboration.

Powering the Future: Battery Research and Demonstration Center

Housed in a repurposed 180,000-sf former mattress factory, the Battery Research and Demonstration Center is a flagship initiative in advanced energy storage. This 22,000-sf, $22 million facility is a collaboration between Ohio State, private industry leaders like Honda, Schaeffler, and Stellantis, and the nonprofit development arm SciTech. Designed to accelerate battery prototyping and workforce training, the center will support cutting-edge research with specialized dry rooms that maintain dew points as low as -60°C, creating an essential environment for sulfide chemistry and next-generation solid-state battery development.

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“Our role is not just to design a space; it’s to create an ecosystem where education is the engine that drives researchers and industry partners towards innovation. This facility allows Ohio State to bridge the gap between research and real-world application, ensuring that groundbreaking discoveries make their way from the lab to the production floor.”

Matt Canterna, AIA, Principal at Wellogy

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Beyond research, the facility integrates demonstration and training programs that prepare a future-ready workforce. As automakers transition to electrification, hands-on experience with battery cell prototyping in a dry room will be critical to scaling new technologies for widespread adoption.

Pushing the Boundaries: Microelectronics Commons at OSU

The future of semiconductors and microelectronics depends on precision, adaptability, and security—qualities embedded in the Microelectronics Commons project at OSU’s Nanotech West. This $3.3 million renovation transforms a specialized research space into a state-of-the-art semiconductor and wafer prototyping facility.

The facility houses three advanced vapor deposition tools essential for semiconductor fabrication, supported by an intricate gas delivery and exhaust system. Working within an active research environment required Wellogy to seamlessly integrate new infrastructure while preserving existing resources.

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“In microelectronics, precision is everything. Every component, from gas distribution to safety protocols, is designed to support researchers in pushing the limits of semiconductor technology.”

Kathy Kelly, MBA, AIA, LEED AP, Principal and Laboratory Planner at Wellogy

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Security is another critical aspect of the project. With funding from the Midwest Microelectronics Commons and the CHIPS Act, the facility incorporates strict entry controls and surveillance to protect sensitive research and intellectual property.

Unlocking Clean Energy: Geological Hydrogen Research at the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center

As the world seeks sustainable energy alternatives, Wellogy is helping Ohio State pioneer geological hydrogen research at the Energy Advancement and Innovation Center (EAIC). In partnership with Koloma, a leader in hydrogen exploration, Wellogy is developing laboratories for geological hydrogen sample analysis.

The project includes the rapid transformation of a lower-level lab space into solids and liquids analysis labs, alongside a new headquarters and testing pod on the third floor. With a six-month turnaround from concept to completion, the project demonstrates Wellogy’s agility in delivering high-performance lab environments under aggressive timelines.

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“This project represents the first corporate tenant fit-out at the EAIC. The goal is more than providing lab space; it’s about creating a collaborative hub where research fuels real-world energy solutions.”

Matt Canterna, AIA, Principal at Wellogy

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Assembling the Best Teams to Build a Smarter Tomorrow

Wellogy’s projects at Ohio State reinforce a larger vision: that the built environment can accelerate discovery, support industry partnerships, and train the next generation of innovators. From advanced battery research to semiconductor fabrication and clean energy labs, these projects require expertise that extends beyond traditional design.

To meet these demands, Wellogy strategically assembles top-tier teams with industry leaders like Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC), Affiliated Engineers (AEI), and Clayco. This collective expertise brings cutting-edge solutions to every project, ensuring that Ohio State researchers have the best-designed environments to fuel discovery and industry advancement.

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“Our approach is rooted in collaboration. By bringing together the best firms to lead technology-rich projects, we create environments that don’t just meet today’s research needs, they anticipate the discoveries of tomorrow.”

Matt Canterna, AIA, Principal at Wellogy

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With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Wellogy and its partners continue to design spaces where academia meets industry to produce groundbreaking science, ensuring that Ohio State remains a leader in research, technology, and education.

Wellogy Principal named SCUP Fellow and begins yearlong research on the intersection between neurodiverse experience and the built environment

Wellogy proudly announces that Kathleen Kelly, MBA, AIA, LEED AP has been selected as one of SCUP’s Fellows for 2023-24. Kelly is a Principal and the Director of Strategy for Wellogy. She leads many of the firm’s prominent projects.

SCUP, the Society for College and University Planning, is the esteemed “community of higher education leaders who, through integrated planning strategies, are building a sustainable future for higher education,” according to the organization’s website. The organization has 5,200 members in 33 countries and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Each year, SCUP reviews the applications, credentials, and topics of interest from submitting members to choose two fellows who will conduct extensive research and contribute to SCUP’s knowledge base of integrated planning. The yearlong study is concluded with a final report and presentation of findings at SCUP’s Annual Conference. Kelly will make her presentation at the conference in July 2024.

Applicants were required to expand on their area of interest and propose methodology and deliverables to share how the outcomes of their research will inform or advance higher education planning. Kelly chose “Inclusion and Equity for the Neurodivergent Campus Community” as her topic. Her 30 years as a practicing architect and passion for creating inclusive places of well-being have led her to the interest and drive behind the research project.

“The collegiate population impacted by varying degrees of neurodivergent symptoms is pressing upwards of 30 percent. In my work, I witness firsthand how the environment impacts well-being. Space designed to recognize neurodiversity, allowing people to be apart but together, to retreat, or to socialize, is a requirement in designing for inclusion and equity for a diverse audience,” according to Kelly.

The project seeks to identify emerging trends in achieving inclusivity, investigate the neuroscience behind existing barriers, and conduct human reaction studies using virtual models through participatory design. The goal is to create evidence-based, inclusive environments that eliminate environmental obstacles for individuals with unique social needs. By understanding the physiological reactions and responses to form, shape, color, light, sound, texture, and graphics, designers can eliminate artificially stimulating spaces, reduce stress, and create truly inclusive environments.

Learn how Wellogy designed their new office focused on wellness

Our move to the mixed-use community of Bridge Park created the opportunity to design the ideal workspace for our team. Check out our new publication; it has insights into our process to reach our goals and information on the wellness elements we incorporated into our new office design.

Thoughtful design elements enhance learning in Veterinary Spectrum of Care Clinic

by Jennifer Bobbitt, CPSM

Wellogy Principal and Architect Rebecca Fox, AIA, LEED® AP, led the team to complete the Frank Stanton Veterinary Spectrum of Care Clinic at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, a project celebrating its first anniversary. Becky shares some insights on this unique hands-on learning facility and the thoughtful design elements that encourage and enhance learning and wellness.

What was the basis of the design for this facility? 

Student learning is the focus of the entire facility. Frank Stanton, the primary donor for the facility, realized that a broader approach is necessary to make a difference in veterinary care. He believed in teaching the future veterinarians how to do/treat more, address the entire spectrum of care, and serve clients from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The program also includes an area for community outreach. We incorporated a garage for their outreach vehicle and secure storage for when companies donate goods, whether dog food, veterinary medicine, or other supplies.

Becky Fox, AIA, LEED® AP, Project Manager for the Frank Stanton Veterinary Spectrum of Care Clinic. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.

What were some of the challenges with designing this facility?

Wellogy was the facilitator of bringing a cohesive design with the many vital professionals involved. One of the things we do best is to bring together the best possible team for every project. We worked with BDA (Building Design for Animals) to focus on particular veterinary needs and collaborated with Bostwick Design Partnership on the exterior design. Additionally, there were civil, structural, MEP engineers, landscape architects, university stakeholders, sustainability stakeholders, FFE procurement, and CMR, among crucial players on the team. With a large project team and a global pandemic with changing market and workforce conditions, we had to lead with focus and endurance to the end goal of opening on budget and on time. 

The unique way OSU approached the design of this project was to have the veterinarian (or they saw them as a coach) take a step back and allow the student to experience the responsibility and accountability of assessing the patient and their needs and coming up with a care plan in a safe zone. The coach or veterinarian would observe from an adjacent room out of sight, which is different from having the coach assist or stand beside the student.  

Canine exam room. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.
Coach or veterinarian observing from an adjacent room out of sight. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.

One of the biggest challenges in the design of the facility was acoustics. We needed to make sure that when the student was in the exam room with the client and patient, the veterinarian/professor in the observation room could see and hear the activity (cameras and microphones). Observation is also just as important when the student comes back into the staff/vet tech space or the observation room. Clinical staff noises must not transmit back to the animal owners to maintain privacy for sensitive matters. 

What are some of the unique design concepts?

The facility includes unique exam rooms – (2) feline exam rooms on a separate HVAC system because cats can tell when dogs are around – those pheromones get around! We made feline-specific exam rooms and a dedicated waiting room for them too. There is a driving force in veterinary practice to keep animals calm during visits. It’s difficult for a vet to examine an animal if they are nervous or anxious. 

There are also exam rooms specific for behavioral animals. Not all dogs are friendly to other canines, may be traumatized, or they could have an issue being around other animals, so there is a special side entrance created for any behavioral animal. Not only does this help keep the animal calm during a visit, but it also is easier on the dog owner. There is also an isolation exam room with a dedicated entry. If you have a contagious animal (for example, a puppy that has parvo), they can come through a separate entrance. That entrance leads to an isolation exam room with a special procedure room, isolation holding (with a dedicated janitor’s closet), and a unique isolation yard outside. There are also special HVAC considerations in the isolation area to maintain negative airflow. Views can be had from the treatment room into this isolation bay so that vets can keep an eye on them if they need to, and there are accommodations for both felines and canines in this area.

Feline exam room. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.

Views were a significant consideration in the design of the facility. Students have their Learning Conference Room immediately adjacent to the Treatment Room. If a veterinarian needs any additional assistance or wants to show them something unique as a learning opportunity, they are close and can see who is available. Likewise, it allows the student to do any research or study when there is downtime between patients. From the Treatment Room, which is the hub of the facility, students and staff can see into the Isolation Ward, the Feline Ward, the Student LCR, the Dental Suite, the Recovery Room, and Induction. Dr. Fingland, Executive Associate Dean and Professor Executive Director, and Chief Medical officer for the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, came up with the surgery window view for students. The window into the surgery suite is just off one of the secure access-only entrances for staff, students, and faculty. It looks into the surgery suite without being close-up- what better way to be excited about what they are learning!                     

Viewing window into the surgery suite.
Surgery suite with student observation window, top left. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.

Wellogy teamed with Bostwick Design Partnership to develop the active learning classrooms. This extensive classroom is an innovative way of teaching that embraces an interactive learning approach, which is different from sitting in front of a lectern and lecturing to students in chairs. By dividing the groups into individual sections (groupings of 8), each has a monitor and whiteboard, groups can be interactive, and teachers can move between groups.  

Interactive learning classroom. Photo by Brad Feinknopf.

The design and construction were a team collaboration to realize OSU’s (and Frank Stanton Foundation’s) vision. BDA (Building Design for Animals) played a vital role in our team’s success with their knowledge of over 1,000 completed projects in animal care. 

Building Facts:

•Total SF: 34,000

•Year Designed: 2019-2020

•Year Completed: 2021

• Cost: $17 M

Team-Role:

Wellogy- Architect of Record

Bostwick Design Partnership- Design Architect

BDA- Small Animal Design Consultant

Korda- Survey and Civil Engineering

Jezerinac Geers- Structural Engineering

Osborn Engineering- MEP & Technology/ Security Engineering

Edge Group- Landscape Architecture

How do you bring new life to a mall?

Wellogy partnered with the Adena Corporation to bring new life to the former Lazarus department store in the Richland Mall. The major renovation from retail to healthcare provides a new maternity unit for the growing Avita Ontario Health System in the Mansfield, Ohio area.

Azure of Palm Coast: Designing for Wellness in Senior Living

Wellogy Senior Living Project Manager Scott Flickinger recently led the team to complete Azure of Palm Coast Senior Living. Located minutes from Florida beaches and in a thriving community, Scott shares some insights on what it takes to design senior housing in a hurricane area while considering all the needs and well-being of the residents.

What do you wish everyone knew about designing a Senior Living Project?

Designing a Senior Living facility requires immense planning and execution of the smallest details to provide safety and comfort for its residents. Every design decision must come from the user’s perspective first, every detail matters. Providing flush floor transitions to eliminate trips & falls, providing rounded corners to reduce scrapes and bruises, and providing frequent places to stop and relax is essential in providing safety for senior residents. As a designer, you must fully immerse yourself and make design decisions from the end users’ perspective. The health and well-being of the residents are a vital component in every design decision.

What are some of the thoughtful design elements included in this environment for seniors?

•The design includes a safe outdoor courtyard for the use memory care community, giving delicate residents a safe environment to enjoy the beautiful Florida weather.

•Common area patios were essential as part of the design to allow residents to play, relax and connect with the entire community.

•Seniors can enjoy a game of bocce ball on the custom bocce court, enjoy a scenic walk around the nature preserve, connect over a game in the activity room, watch the big game at the sky bar, or get the blood flowing at the indoor gym.

•Large expansive windows are a key feature throughout the design to connect and view the outdoors.

What were some of the challenges of this project?

Designing a facility near the beach can be challenging, especially in Florida with its severe weather. The design of the building protects all its residents in a hurricane event using impact doors & windows and a concrete and steel structure.

Building Facts:

•# of units: 112 Total; 31 Memory Care & 81 Assisted Living

•Total SF: 93,891

•Year Designed: 2018

•Year Completed: 2021

•Cost: $21 M

Check out more photos of Azure at Palm Coast.

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