Wexner Center
The Wexner Center for the Arts was built on the site of the old Armory at a cost of about $45 million, and opened in 1989.
Dedicated to visual arts, particularly those using technologies such as video, computer graphics and electronic image processing, it was the first museum of its kind to include in its mission research and teaching.
For the building’s design, the University held a contest, and the winning team was composed of Peter Eisenman of New York and Richard Trott of Columbus. The design includes a large, white metal grid meant to suggest scaffolding to give the building a sense of incompleteness. In that way, the walkway signifies the future, which, combined with the section of the building that resembles the Armory’s turret, represents a passage from past to future.
In 2002 the building underwent a $10 million renovation to fix structural flaws that resulted in too much sunlight, temperature swings and water seeping down walls.
The building is named after Harry L. Wexner, father of Leslie H. Wexner, founder of Limited Brands and current chair of the Board of Trustees.
more information:
John H. Herrick Archives: Wexner Center
