COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus State Community College announced it will invest more than $50 million in new classroom improvements, including a renovation of Franklin Hall.
Columbus State’s $35 million investment into Franklin Hall would transform the three-story building, creating new classrooms and specialized labs for semiconductor and biotechnology education. The remaining funds will support new engineering technology labs, general classroom updates and expanding the facilities for its automotive technology program.
Columbus State said it is completing the project’s details, including how large classrooms will be, technology needs and which firm will be hired for construction-manager-at-risk services. MA Design has already been selected as the designer, and the college confirmed the construction will also address lingering maintenance issues within the 46-year-old building.
“The new Franklin Hall will meet the needs of our students now and into the future, with classrooms configured for the best learning experience,” Columbus State President David Harrison said. “This project is another example of Columbus State’s student-first mission, a demonstration of how we are stewarding public funding to advance teaching and learning. These projects are making central Ohio stronger.”
The Franklin Hall project is Columbus State’s largest classroom renovation project to date, according to the college. It joins a series of projects for Columbus State, including three new labs that are all in the midst of or have completed construction already. These three lab projects cost nearly $3 million and will all be completed by early 2025.
Columbus State has also invested $66.5 million to build a health services center in partnership with OhioHealth. The new 80,000-square-foot classroom building is part of the college’s plan to double enrollment in nursing and four other healthcare fields.
Franklin Hall, located at 277 Jefferson Ave. on the eastern edge of Downtown, houses classrooms, administrative offices, lounges and several academic departments. The renovation of the 42,000-square-foot building is scheduled to begin next summer and to reopen by the spring semester of 2027.
