The Columbus Fieldhouse, locally known as “The House,” is an expansion of the Columbus Health and Wellness Center, owned by the Columbus Community Hospital. The facility includes an indoor synthetic turf field for soccer and football, and it features one of the longest uninterrupted running and walking tracks in the country. The complex is designed to enhance community wellness and support competitive sports, offering a two-court gymnasium, pickleball courts, tennis courts, racquetball courts, locker rooms and a physical therapy suite.
The House is thoughtfully designed to cater to the entire community, incorporating substantial space for nontraditional recreation programming. The design team collaborated closely with CCH leadership from the project’s inception to understand Columbus’s unique characteristics and identify underserved programs and services. This approach has contributed to a 50% increase in membership and usage over the facility’s first 15 months, with nontraditional recreation programming credited for much of this growth.
The House exemplifies how impactful design can be achieved on a tight budget. Through extensive collaboration with the construction manager, the design team ensured that every decision balanced efficiency, practicality and quality. The initial planning focused on minimizing circulation and expanding multi-use areas to preserve programmable square footage. What resulted is a facility constructed at a significantly lower cost than most others of its size and quality.
Design Architect
Kahler Slater
Milwaukee, Wis.
Architect of Record
TSP Inc.
Columbus, Neb.
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