This Spring, City's Building Projects are All About Renovation

By Steve Wartenberg, The Columbus Dispatch

It’s spring, and in Columbus, the better weather and improved financial climate are bringing forth a host of building-renovation projects.

They include the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Port Columbus, the main branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Libraryand a large, West Side apartment complex on the comeback trail.

The historic LeVeque Tower and Atlas Building Downtown are also being rejuvenated.

“I’d say, yes, there do seem to be a lot more renovation projects going on right now,” said Brian Moran, Turner Construction’s project executive for the Ohio region.

“It’s being driven by market economics and partly by changes in technology,” he said. Hospitals, libraries and colleges “need more space for technology, and this is driving several renovation projects.”

Turner is one of the construction companies involved in the $80 million renovation of Port Columbus and will soon start work on the $30.4 million upgrade to the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s main branch.

Many renovation projects were shelved during the recession.

“And now they’re getting to them,” said Joshua Corna, senior vice president of Corna Kokosing, a local construction company. “People are starting to get the financing they need.”

Corna Kokosing is construction manager for the $37.6 million renovation and expansion of the Columbus Museum of Art and is teaming with Elford Construction on the estimated $125 million renovation and expansion of the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

“The art museum project is a good sign,” Corna said. “It shows that the economy is improving and the private sector is able to give back to important institutions such as the art museum.”

Another factor driving the projects is the need to update outdated heating and cooling systems.

“The systems we put in 20 years ago aren’t very efficient,” Moran said. “The payback on new systems is only four to five years, so it makes sense.”

Corna Kokosing projects

The biggest challenge at the art museum “is working around all the valuable art,” Corna said. “And, it’s remained open, so not disrupting the flow of the public and the safety of the public is important.”

Corna Kokosing workers have had to cordon off areas and bring in temporary cooling and heating systems to safeguard the artwork as they constructed a new wing.

Corna’s work is expected to be completed in July and the new wing will open in October.

The experience the company gained at the art museum will help at the convention center, which will also remain open during the renovation.

“We’ll be working in an occupied space where there will be an event going on almost every day,” Corna said.

One of the biggest challenges will be the Arnold Sports Festival in March. It takes over the entire convention center.

“We’ll have to make it look like we’re not even there,” Corna said.

Turner projects

The biggest challenge at the main library branch at 96 S. Grant Ave. is the historic nature of the building. It was completed in 1907 with a $200,000 gift from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

“We’re essentially taking down the wall that faces the topiary park and opening it up, with more light and views to the outside,” Moran said.

The project will also include work on the library’s main concourse and stairway, adding new heating, cooling and electrical systems, and improvements to the main entrance.

“We’re working around architectural artwork in a historic building and we have to get it right. There’s no room for error,” Moran said.

The interior will be redesigned to accommodate more technology.

The project is expected to be completed in July 2016.

Turner is the construction manager for the $31.9 million renovation of the ticket lobby at Port Columbus, while Corna Kokosing will do the $6.3 million renovation of the baggage claim area.

Havenwood updates

The biggest issue during the ongoing renovations at the 820-unit Havenwood Townhome Community on the West Side has been massive, underground water leaks.

The Romney Group has spent about $10 million to date, and plans to spend another $5 million to $7 million on the complex formerly known as Metro West.

“We’re up to about 55 percent leased and moving in about 40 new residents a month, and we should be at about 95 percent occupancy a year from now,” said Bryce Abplanalp, the Romney Group’s director of management.

Pierpont Management is overseeing all the construction.

Most of the exterior work has been completed, and includes new roofs and windows, improvements to the parking lots and the addition of a community park.

During the renovations, Abplanalp said it was discovered that the water bills were unusually high.

“They were at least 100 times what they should have been,” he said.

The problem was a series of underground leaks that had to be repaired.

“The hardest part was finding the leaks,” Abplanalp said.