Press Release: August 1, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Harmon, 614/251-4000 x 113
THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES BROAD STREET EXPANSION Action being taken to restore historic site to better serve needs of donors
COLUMBUS, Ohio (August 1, 2007) – The Columbus Foundation announced an expansion and improvement project, reaffirming the Foundation’s commitment to its historic Broad Street location. Included in this $7.8 million building project is the further restoration of the former Governor’s Mansion, the construction of a new office facility, and the creation of a special convening facility to house its many meetings and events as well as landscaping of the frontage along Broad Street. Restoration of the former Governor’s Mansion is expected to be completed in November, and the new facilities are expected to be completed by June 1, 2008.
“Our facilities are used extensively, and have not been renovated or expanded in almost 20 years, when we first moved to this location,” said Douglas F. Kridler, Columbus Foundation president and CEO. “As stewards of one of the top ten community foundations in the world, we feel a responsibility to do our part to protect and enhance this enduring part of civic pride and improvement. We looked at a whole range of options of where we should pursue our expansion, and are very pleased to announce that we are making this further investment in this neighborhood, on Broad Street, and in the Governor’s Mansion.”
When completed in 2008, the project will create a new campus that will link the buildings and allow easy access for visitors. The new buildings will be located slightly behind the Governor’s Mansion, ensuring the historic landmark remains the most prominent feature of the block on which the Foundation sits. The new building will be environmentally friendly, meeting the criteria set by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. The project also includes the landscaping of a former gas station on the corner of Broad Street and the removal of an abandoned home and small office building from the site.
The Columbus Foundation moved to its current location in the former Governor’s Mansion in 1988, when the Wexner Foundation gave the facility to the Foundation. As was the case with that move to Broad Street, this phase of the Foundation’s progress is being funded through private contributions from Foundation supporters and internal financing. A $1 million gift from the Paul G. Duke Foundation in Troy, Ohio, will support the construction of the new administration building, and it will be named for Mr. Duke, who founded ChemLawn Corp.
The former Governor’s Mansion served as home to 10 of Ohio’s Governors, from 1920 to 1957.
About The Columbus Foundation
The Columbus Foundation is the trusted philanthropic advisor to nearly 1,600 individuals, families, and businesses, who have created funds to make a difference in the lives of others through the most effective philanthropy possible. Serving the central Ohio region for 64 years, The Columbus Foundation is a resource for philanthropic strategy and community knowledge and is a partner in improving central Ohio. With assets of $1 billion, The Columbus Foundation is one of the ten largest community foundations in the United States today.
For more information about The Columbus Foundation, call 614/251-4000.