Lower.com Field Columbus, Ohio

Services Provided

Urban Design
Entertainment District Design
Public Space Design
Construction Documents

People Involved

Jeffrey Pongonis
John Woods
Jonathan Staker
Matt Kellogg
Lavonne Grosjean
Benjamin Kohls

Awards

2022 OCASLA Honor Award
2021 Columbus Downtown Commission Harrison W. Smith Award
2021 Columbus Landmarks Foundation James B. Recchie Design Award

Stadium and site work in harmony to bring together a large sports facility in an established district and emerging urban neighborhood

Lower.com Field is home to Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew. With its completion, the stadium becomes the third world-class sports venue to open in the span of 20 years along the Arena District’s connective ‘spine’ Nationwide Boulevard. When construction is complete within this area of the Arena District, the new stadium will anchor the gateway to the emerging new mixed-use development Astor Park.

Building on the legacy of the Arena District, MKSK partnered with HNTB architects to develop a venue that maximizes the integration of site, stadium, and neighborhood. The stadium and site work together to diminish the typical disconnect one experiences between a large sports facility and the adjacent neighborhood. Two dedicated public plazas, engaging

overlooks, and openings in the stadium facade work to provide transparency and opportunities for unique public realm spaces around the venue. The stadium was thought of and designed not only as a place for fan goers but as a neighborhood amenity that the emerging Astor Park neighborhood can utilize as it develops into the future.

Lower.com Field seats 20,000 spectators including 30 suites and 1,900 club seats. Features also include over an acre of dedicated public plazas; a 220,000 SF canopy covering every seat, a 3,356-seat safe-standing supporters section; a 1,000 SF children’s play room and two family nurseries; two beer gardens; a full service pub; high-definition scoreboards; and frictionless point of entry.