Rising from the rubble in crumbling downtown Columbus, Ohio, is the 20,000-seat, $150 million Nationwide Arena and the "Arena District," a newly named 95-acre area of business, entertainment and residential space. Bounded by North High Street to the east, Neil Avenue to the west, Spring Street to the south and railroad tracks to the north, the Arena District is right in the heart of downtown. While the arena opened for business in September 2000, seven projects are under construction in the district, including a three-acre park with the historic Union Station Arch and a seven-building, 650,000-sq.-ft., $125 million mixed-use 10-screen cinema complex. In addition, five other office buildings-Ohio Moline Plow, URS Corp., the Arena Office Building and 401 N. Front St.-are seeking tenants.
The insurer Nationwide is financing and developing the arena and district with the Dispatch Printing Co.
Architects for the Arena were Kansas City, Mo.-based Heinlein + Schrock and NBBJ of Columbus. Construction managers were Turner/Barton Malow Sports and Miles-McClellan Construction Co. Columbus-based Myers Schmalenberger Inc. created the master plan for the district in collaboration with Sasaki and Associates of Boston as well as the architects for the Arena.
The Arena District flanks the 685,000-sq.-ft. Nationwide Arena, home to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.