Sitting along the winding Olentangy River on the outskirts of Ohio State’s main campus, the Longaberger Alumni House is a welcome contribution from those looking to give a little back to their alma mater.

Dedicated in October 1999, the Longaberger Alumni House was built from donations of alumni from every county in Ohio, every U.S. state and 14 foreign countries.

“Our doors are always open,” said Nancy Beja, executive assistant and assistant secretary to the board of the Longaberger Alumni House. “We’re always encouraging people to stop by and take a look around because you can’t appreciate this building until you’ve seen it for yourself.”

The Longaberger Alumni House has more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space created to serve the needs of the university and business communities, as well as creating a special place to welcome OSU alumni back home.

A breathtaking design, including scenic windows running floor to ceiling and balconies overlooking each of the three levels, contributes to an enlightening atmosphere. Local architecture firm Wandell & Schnell, also OSU alumni, added angular walls that look as though rooms are closing in or falling back.

Along with the unique nature of the Longaberger Alumni House, artwork contributed by OSU alumni decorates every wall. Upon entering, Larry C. Shank’s “Buckeye” is mounted on the wall and immediately catches the eye.

“The sculpture adds depth perspective and stops people in their tracks,” Beja said. “This is by far my most favorite piece in the whole building.”

Contributing OSU alumni artists include Fred Machetanz, the late George W. Bellows, and the late Milton Caniff, noted for his nationally distributed adventure comic strips “Terry and the Pirates” and “Steve Canyon.” The late Ralph Fanning, who introduced the first graduate program in art history at OSU, has work on display that depicts campus architecture, most of which includes the construction of the Horseshoe.

The Longaberger Alumni House is located at 2200 Olentangy River Rd., across from the Schottenstein Center. Students looking for a little break are welcome to visit and experience a refreshing atmosphere.