With its unique, experimental design, the Wexner Center for the Arts is itself a work of art and has an intriguing history.
When it opened on Nov. 16, 1989, the Wexner Center was the product of one of the largest private fundraising campaigns in history.
The campaign sought $225 million to build the center – $25 million of which was donated by Leslie H. Wexner, chairman of The Limited, Inc. After his contribution, Wexner dedicated the building in honor of his father, Harry L. Wexner.
The design for the Wexner Center was selected in an international contest held by Ohio State in the early 1980s.
Architects Peter Eisenman of New York and Richard Trott of Columbus submitted the winning, innovative design.
“Architects have come from all over the world to see the Wexner Center, because it was groundbreaking,” said Karen Simonian, a spokeswoman for the Wexner Center.
“With good programming, it has put Columbus and Ohio State on the arts map,” she said.
Trott, an Ohio State alumn, chose to bring some history into the design.
In 1897, on the very site of where the Wexner stands today, an Armory was built for $115,000.
The Armory was modeled after old fortresses with turrets and a castle-like doorway. Commencements were once held there, until graduation classes became too large.
The Armory housed a gymnasium, basketball court and dance hall.
In 1958, the Armory was damaged badly by a fire. At the time, Trott was attending OSU.
The fire damaged the building so badly, the Armory was razed in 1959.
Remembering this, Trott designed the towers on the south side of the Wexner Center to simulate the main turret of the Armory.
To symbolize the many different artists coming from all over the world to display their artwork, Trott and Eisenman designed the plaza in front of the building so it is directly in line with the runway at Port Columbus Airport.
Along the east side of the Wexner Center is a white, metal grid that resembles scaffolding used in construction. The architects designed this to represent that the Wexner Center would never be “finished” and would always be ready to display any new artwork that came to its galleries.
The Wexner Center now houses approximately 12,000 square feet of galleries, a film and video theater, a black box performance space, an art and technology studio, a bookshop and a cafe.
Currently, the galleries are closed due to construction.
Improvements are being made to the climate control system, and a state of the art lighting system is being installed.
The renovations also give the Wexner Center time to display artwork in other parts of town.
This summer, the Wexner Center is collaborating with COSI for the first time to present a laser light exhibit called “Supernova.” Artwork will also be located on the first floor of the Belmont Building near the Arena District.
OSU is funding the renovations of the Wexner Center, costing approximately $12 million, and they are expected to last through 2004.
