Category: Technology

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.

Exploring Healthy Homes Ideas with the University of Cincinnati VIS Class

by Jennifer M. Bobbitt

The Visual Innovation Studio (VIS) project challenged a group of 25 University of Cincinnati students to explore two primary questions. First, how can a healthy home environment improve its inhabitants’ social, health, and economic, mental well-being? And second, how does the design of a healthy home fit into and enhance the Healthy Urbanism™ formula? Wellogy (formerly Davis Wince, Ltd.) provided architects and planners to support the students by responding to their questions and providing additional information.

“I learned a lot about the design process through this project. Aaron Bradley, our faculty advisor, taught us to ‘fall in love with the problem’ before we even started forming solutions. By doing so, we could fully understand what needed to be addressed and had something to fall back on when revising the project,” according to Natalie Kunes, University of Cincinnati Urban Planning student.

University of Cincinnati Associate Professor Aaron Bradley teaches the popular innovation class and is well known to his students for challenging their thinking and pushing them outside their comfort zone of ideas.

“I’m constantly surprised at the effort it takes to get them (students) to push past the ‘safe’ answers at early stages of an innovation project. I think that by the time they get to university, they’ve had years and years of very linear approaches to education and a lot of classroom situations where there’s ultimately only one “right” answer that the test or the teacher has set up. Creative problem solving implies that there are multiple ‘right’ ways to solve a problem. Over the years, I’ve come to expect this, so I build in a lot of early work in this area at the start of every new project with students. As they get more comfortable with the idea that it’s OK (in fact, it’s encouraged) to push past boundaries and propose bold ideas, the creative process always gets a lot more fun, and the results are more impactful,” Bradley said.

The students were divided into teams, each consisting of multiple disciplines, and started their research and exploration. Each week, Wellogy staff interacted with the students numerous times to help ensure the project moved forward and involved complete information and mentorship.

“This virtual class setting, although not conventional, was the perfect think tank for possibilities. The past year has taught us to listen, learn and be open to new ideas and opportunities,” according to Kathy Kelly, Wellogy architect and Director of Strategy. Kelly was actively involved with the students every week as they researched and looked for ideas.

Chloe Pi, University of Cincinnati Industrial Design student, Class of 2024, said the research and design phase also sparked new ideas for her.

“I learned a lot about the research phase within the design process. I learned that topics unrelated to the prompt you have been given can be helpful and that it does not have to directly relate to the subject matter. It can be something as simple as understanding more about human behavior,” Pi said.

At the end of the five weeks, the students compiled their research findings and insights and packaged their graphics into a well-orchestrated presentation. Wellogy architect Gary Gray was impressed with the level of detail to which the students explored the healthy home idea.

“From materials like copper handles to reduce the transmission of bacteria and adjustable height bathroom counters and cooktops, the students addressed the adaptations for a healthier home and aging in place options,” Gray said.


Wellogy architects Gray and Kelly agreed; they learned a lot from their experience as mentors and found the information the students created very inspiring and innovative. The designs have sparked new conversations and ideas both in architecture and for aspiring students.

“There are things that have influenced what I envision my future home(s) to be like. I can incorporate small things into a current residence or bigger things like the kind of materials I use. But on a broader scale, how can I be more conscious of how my home functions with surrounding homes and communities,” Kunes said.

Bradley noted that this class was different due to COVID-19 related restrictions put on students this semester.

“Bringing us a challenge that has the potential for real impact was paramount. All too often students are given a very constrained problem set to work with, and the output is very tactical (redline a set of plans, design a logo, etc.). It was great to work on a challenge that asks larger questions of human behaviors and human futures,” according to Bradley.

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