Gensler focused on the educational and emotional support of those suffering from neurologic conditions when designing OhioHealth’s Neuroscience Wellness Center in Columbus, Ohio.

The OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center is a one-of-a-kind destination for people living with neurologic conditions, including Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, and their caregivers. Its clinical, educational, and emotional support programing help to build strength, health, and community.

The 25,300-square-foot interdisciplinary center includes exercise studios with overhead harnessing for extra balance; a quiet wellness studio for mind-body classes that extends to a large deck for outdoor programming; an open gym with ADA-accessible options; flexible classrooms for community education and support; an indoor walking track; an administration workspace; a café; and is the new home for the OhioHealth John J. Gerlach Center, which consists of cognitive neurology and geriatric assessment clinics.

The architecture is uniquely understated for a building on an active major medical campus. The siting and intentional organization of the building make it feel bucolic and calm, allowing those using the facility to feel at ease and focus on their health.

Situated upon a hill overlooking a neighboring forest preserve and organized around an outdoor courtyard which serves as a community “hearth” space for patients and visitors, the building architecturally embraces its natural surroundings. The center features ample filtered daylight through floor-to-ceiling windows, offers varying framed views of the woodlands beyond, and prioritizes access to the outdoors for all occupants.

In addition to its exercise and strength purposes, the interior walking track provides intuitive and clear wayfinding, giving access to the fitness and wellness studios and classrooms. Frictionless design considerations including abundant and controlled natural light, transition spaces between inside and out, and subtle material changes are integrated throughout the building.

Architect: Gensler
Design Team: Randy Guillot, Brian Watson, Sean McGuire, Megan Wagner, Gretchen Kelly, Stephen Miller, Stephanie Birner, Thomas Sharp, Corey McClenahan, Bethany Callihan, Molli Kiser
Contractor: Whiting-Turner
Photography: James Steinkamp Photography