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Photos of this event - click here
One thing can be said for the Downtown Lazarus Department Store building: It certainly isn’t your mother’s (or grandmother’s) favorite place to shop anymore.
The 1.1-millon-square-foot, seven-story landmark that once lured shoppers from throughout Ohio is undergoing an extensive renovation for use by state departments and agencies, and, hopefully, for other office tenants, restaurants and retail outlets.
When all is said and done with the building, it is expected to be the “largest green building in the state,” and the linchpin in the revitalization of the 23-acre RiverSouth District.
(And just what is “green?” According to the Washington, DC-based U.S. Green Building Council, green buildings are "environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work." That can mean a lot of things, but the common denominator is almost always a carefully built building that uses less water and energy than standard construction, while providing occupants with better light and cleaner air.)
Some 30 members of the Central Ohio IFMA Chapter toured the facility September 22 as guests of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services, which will begin occupying two floors of the building in January.
The tour was arranged by IFMA member Jeffrey Hissem, ODJFS bureau chief for facilities, and conducted with the help of ODJFS employees Heather Cassady, engineer; curt Winkelvoss, superintendent; and Kelly Huskey, business operations manager.
Hissem said practically everything that has gone into renovation of the ODJFS space has a recycled element. The restroom partitions are composed of recycled plastic such as milk jugs, the urinals are waterless, toilets will be flushed with rain water collected on the roof, and all breakrooms are furnished with recycled materials and designed to accept discarded items for recycling.
An article in the September 25th edition of The Columbus Dispatch also said:
“…a terrazzo floor in the open-air lobby is made from recycled glass pieces…A skylight is designed to shower offices with natural light. Floor coverings, paint and adhesives throughout the building either use recycled materials or are formulated to reduce chemical emissions.
“…recyclers accepted more than 5,400 tons of material torn out of the Lazarus building before the renovation, keeping it out of local landfills. That’s more than half the concrete, metal, wood, ceiling tile, and paper removed from the building.”
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency moved its Central District Office into part of the building in December 2005 and will also occupy some of the space being renovated now. The OEPA is preparing a roof garden on top of the building that will showcase plant life native to Ohio and other parts of the midwest.
Following the tour, IFMA members and guests were joined by others at Gibby’s in the Arena District for a few hours of socializing. Finger food was provided by IFMA member Stephan Cooke and the T.W. Ruff Co. The company also provided a $25 gift certificate to Starbucks that was won in a drawing by Steve Sole, a guest of member Oren Snell.
Former chapter president Eileen Smith walked away with the top prize: Two Club Level tickets to the Ohio State-Penn State football game. T.W. Ruff also provided the tickets.