For 100+ years, the Lazarus department store was a fixture in downtown Columbus. In 2004, the store closed, but the building was far from being forgotten; in fact, big changes were underway to give the Lazarus Building a
second life.
SCA’s design team began the reinvention of the Lazarus Building by restoring the façade and reopening more than 150 window openings using mullion patterns that match the original units. We also transformed a former alley through the building’s center into a two-story Galleria that serves as the central organizational element of the project. A new eight-story skylit lightwell, an important architectural feature at the center of the building, not only provides drama to the Galleria below, but also brings natural light to the center of the large tenant floors. Importantly, it also occurs at the juncture of four building structures built over six decades, a fact that significantly complicated its design and construction. Construction was phased, as part of the building was continuously occupied by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
As Architect of Record (Elkus Manfredi of Boston served as Design Architect), SCA prepared all contract documents, assisted the construction manager with bidding, and provided full-time, on-site representation throughout construction. This project was the first, and is still the largest, renovation in our region to achieve the LEED Gold CS certification.
|
