INCOMPATIBLE LANDSCAPE

The building and area I chose as a incompatible in-fill was the Wexner Center located on the campus of Ohio State University. Located on High Street that runs along the front edge of campus, dividing the academic part of the campus area from the commercial area. The Wexner Center sits on the site of the Armory or Gymnasium building. The Armory was built in 1898 and caught fire in 1958 and was demolished later that year. In the following 30 odd years 15th Avenue ran through the site providing a visual as well as a physical connection to the university.

The Wexner Center for the Visual Arts" was named after Leslie H. Wexner, the founder, president, and chairman of the board of the Limited, Inc. as well as chairperson of the OSU Foundation. The Center was dedicated to the memory of Harry L. Wexner, the deceased father of Leslie Wexner. The center opened on Nov 17, 1989 on the site of the old Armory Building. Part of the building was made to mimic the towers and turrets of the original building. The site is shown below.

The way in which the center is located is contrary to the buildings around it. On the High Street side the buildings run parallel to the street, while the Wexner is skewed off parallel and looks as if it is trying to swallow the existing architecture. The placement has also worked to isolate the center of campus, The Oval, as 15th Avenue continued across High Street. The Oval area is the original base of the campus and still houses the Academic Administration in some of the original buildings. By placing the Wexner as it is across 15th it has cut off the center of campus from public view.

Partial map of campus showing the connection of 15th Avenue and the Oval. Notice the direct line between the library building at the top of the Oval and how it runs towards 15th Avenue.

This is a view from 15th Avenue located directly across from the center. Originally 15th Avenue went through the site and came out at the Oval in line with the library.

As you came through, the view would have been of the long sidewalk leading across the Oval and ending at the library. There are several paths that criss cross throughout allowing connections to the building on all sides of the Oval.

Looking back towards the Wexner Center and High Street where your path is blocked by the unusable sitting area.

Going through the Wexner leads you out towards High Street. The sketch below shows how the main entry of the Wexner Center lines up with 15th Avenue. While there is somewhat of a implied connection between the Oval and the street, the physical connection is gone.