National Register of Historic Places

Open Air School

Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
Listed
June 14, 2019
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
100004054

About this property

The Open Air School is a historic building in the Tuttle Park area of Old North Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. The building was constructed as a school, and today houses local a café, bar, a fitness center, and event space. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. The former open air school building first housed students at risk of catching tuberculosis. Because of this, the building has large windows, gathering spaces, outdoor areas, and nearby wilderness. It replaced an older open air school building on the site, built in 1913. The 1927 building subsequently held Neil Avenue Elementary, from 1956 to 1975. It then held Columbus City Schools administrative offices, and later sat vacant for years. Around 2019, a $6.1-million renovation plan was announced, for the site to hold a mix of businesses. Proposed tenants included a coffee shop, fitness center, a restaurant, and offices. In 2022, a local brewery opened a restaurant and bar, called Understory, on-site. The 30,586 sq ft (2,841.5 m2) building sits on 1.2 acres (0.49 ha). It was designed by Howard Dwight Smith, architect of the Ohio Stadium, and was built in 1927. Its Italian Renaissance Revival style is constructed of reinforced concrete and has a brick and terra cotta facade.

Location

2571 Neil Ave.
Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
40.01447, -83.01406

Categories

EDUCATIONHEALTH/MEDICINEARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

North Columbus Commercial Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Ohio Stadium
Industrial
0.4 mi
North High School
Modern
0.4 mi
Glen Echo Historic District
Listed
0.8 mi
Coe, Truman and Sylvia Bull, House
Industrial
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Open Air School listed on the National Register?

Open Air School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 2019.

What type of historic resource is Open Air School?

Open Air School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Open Air School?

The period of significance for Open Air School is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Open Air School?

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