A new gateway to an innovation and research district

Columbus, Ohio
Education

The Interdisciplinary Research Facility (IRF) at The Ohio State University is an inaugural building in Carmenton, the new innovation hub on the West Campus. Designed for cutting-edge research and flexibility to accommodate multiple research disciplines working together, the 305,000-square-foot facility adopts placemaking strategies to attract the best talent in science and research.

Construction is nearing completion and should be completed early in 2023.
“The Interdisciplinary Research Facility and its plaza will truly be the epicenter of the new Innovation District. As one of three major projects currently underway on west campus, the foundation is set for Ohio State to grow the Innovation District and attract and retain top researchers as well as develop potential public-private partnerships that support our overall academic mission.”
— Keith Meyers, Ohio State's Vice President of Planning, Architecture and Real Estate
Each research floor includes three, 10-PI wet bench neighborhoods and a separate computation research wing for 10 computational PIs.

Uniting multiple research disciplines into one facility

The new Interdisciplinary Research Facility will bring multiple research disciplines together, including biomedical, life sciences, engineering, and environmental sciences. The building will include an auditorium, café, administration offices, wet and dry labs, five floors of research, and two floors dedicated to The Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center and the new Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology.

Each floor has a large collaboration/open meeting area within the computational wing adjacent to the elevator core.

Building community and engagement

Designed to emphasize a sense of community and excitement about its cutting-edge research, the building fronts a large public plaza connected to the 43-acre Fred Beekman Park and adjacent to the Energy Innovation Center and Fred Beekman Walking Path. With core labs located on the ground floor, this puts science on display for visitors and students alike.

More About the Project

Project Team

Principal Collaborators

  • Architect of Record: Moody Nolan
  • Structural Engineer: SMBH, Inc.
  • MEP: AEI Affiliated Engineers, Inc.
  • Lab Planner: Jacobs Consultancy

Project Information

  • Location: Columbus, Ohio
  • Client: The Ohio State University
  • Size: 305,000 sq. ft. / 27,406 sq. m.
  • Completion: 2023
  • Firm Role: Design Architect

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