The site of the Prime Site Computer center was formerly an Agricultural experimental growing area for the Ohio State University Agriculture Department.  The single family residential neighborhood to the west was seriously and vigorously opposed to such a large scale building in the neighborhood and developed extreme resistance. RPMI prepared numerous partiis to attempt to satisfy these neighbors and finally arrived at a scheme that would do just that..

The most important idea, an ingenious idea, was to rotate the building 90 degree in order to prevent any side from being parallel with the street and thus diminish the impact of this size.

Approaching the site from either direction presented an optical illusion because the structure always appeared to be moving away.

The design utilized the site topography to take advantage of the illusion because the land dropped approximately 20 feet from Lane Avenue to the interior and thus with a 400’ set back, and a park setting in which to place the structure, the neighbors were enthusiastic in approving the building design.

The building is a computer center which houses most of the computer operations of State Government (i.e. Highway Department, Welfare Department, Correction Department, Secretary of State and Department of Administrative Services)

Security is very tight and the interior offices are designed to maintain a 70% temperature and 50% humidity.

Robert P. Madison International was the prime consultant with total responsibility for architecture, engineering interior design landscape and furnishing, fixture and equipment.

Size: 360,000 square feet

Cost: $55,000,000

Completed: 1991