This week we're releasing a special, in-between, episode of Archinect Sessions. In this show we’re sharing some conversations recorded by Ken and Donna from Exhibit Columbus, while visiting a selection of installations and local architectural masterpieces. Exhibit Columbus describes itself as an “annual exploration of architecture, art, design, and community created to celebrate Columbus’ extraordinary design heritage.” This inaugural exhibition opened on August 26th, and will continue until November 26th. We’ve covered Exhibit Columbus many times on on Archinect, including episodes 83, 94 and 103 of Archinect Sessions. 

If you plan on visiting Exhibit Columbus, make sure to grab a map and program from the Columbus Visitor’s Center, and check out the mobile app Hear/Here that uses geo-location to play commentary for each installation throughout the city. 

Ken and Donna start their tour at the University Installations, an axis of five architecture school projects along a pubic pedestrian walkway. Each school took the installation on as a student project, giving them the opportunity to learn about full-scale fabrication in the public sphere. First up, the Ball State installation 49262...

Next up is the University of Cincinnati’s project “Alchemy”

Onto the University of Michigan’s Cloud Bank. The beginning of this recording is from the Hear/Here app…

Martin Summers, the professor in charge of the University of Kentucky’s installation, tells us about their project. 

The last stop before lunch is a visit to Knowlton School’s project INSCRIBED. 

The second half of the day is spent visiting the Miller Prize installations, the superstars of Exhibit Columbus. Ten firms competed for five spots, with each winning firm awarded $70k to realize their projects. Each team was expected to work with local fabricators to bolster collaboration between design and industry. First up is IKD’s design for Conversation Plinth. The beginning of the recording captures the app narration, describing the 3D lidar scanning of the plaza...

Next up is Wiikiaami, by studio:indiginous. Architect Chris Cornelius describes the project via the Hear/Here app, followed by some friendly debate between your hosts. 

Plan B’s installation among the Cummins Corporate Office Building pergola is the next stop on the tour. This is clearly not our tour guide’s favorite project, and they don’t hold back with their criticism. The recording starts with audio from the app, then follows with Ken's beat down. 

Next, onto Oyler Wu’s “The Exchange”, which is arguably the most urban project, highlighted by the traffic noise

“Another Circle” by Aranda/Lasch, is the final Miller Prize installation Ken and Donna visit as the sun falls. 

There are a number of small-scale installations around the city that Ken and Donna didn’t get a chance to visit. Two of them, however, did merit note, so we’ll finish this off with a look at those. First up is Indiana University’s Synergia. IU does not have an architecture program, however, they are an important part of the design conversation in the city and state. Similarly, North Christian Church is a distance outside the main core of architecture projects in the city, but is a significant work of architecture by Eero Saarinen. The organizers decided to put IU’s project at this important though off the beaten path location.  The recording starts with students speaking on the app.

    

And finally we take a look at a project by local public high school students entitled “Between the Threads”. The recording starts with the app, and is followed with the students speaking about the installation.