Columbus State Breaks Ground on OhioHealth Hall to Train Next Generation of Healthcare Professionals
Columbus State Community College has officially broken ground on OhioHealth Hall, a new academic building that will help meet the region’s urgent need for healthcare professionals.
The 80,000-square-foot, three-story facility is designed to double the number of Columbus State graduates in high-demand fields such as nursing, respiratory care and surgical technology.
When completed in 2027, OhioHealth Hall will be a state-of-the-art learning center featuring hands-on labs, simulation spaces, classrooms and student-focused amenities. It will be located next to Mitchell Hall, the college’s School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts, at the corner of Cleveland Avenue and East Spring Street.
“OhioHealth Hall will have a huge impact on our community by preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals that will care for local residents for generations to come,” said Dr. David Harrison, president of Columbus State. “Our healthcare programs lead to well-paying, meaningful jobs that also address key community needs.”
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services projects a 14.5 percent increase in healthcare support jobs by 2030, far faster than other industries. Meanwhile, the Aspen Institute predicts central Ohio will need 9,000 additional healthcare workers by 2028 to meet the needs of a growing population.
To support this pipeline, Columbus State is putting healthcare education front and center in its plans for growth. About 1,700 students are currently enrolled in nursing, surgical technology, medical imaging, respiratory therapy, and sterile processing. These programs will be at the heart of OhioHealth Hall. The college also launched a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2024 to provide further training opportunities.
The project is backed by a public-private partnership with OhioHealth, which provided a $25 million philanthropic endowment to support instruction and other operation costs of Columbus State’s healthcare programs. The gift is one of the largest-ever donations to an American community college.
“This is a critical time to invest in the healthcare workforce as the region’s population grows,” said Stephen Markovich, MD, president and CEO of OhioHealth. “We’re proud to invest in a talent pipeline our entire region will benefit from, and to continue our deep partnership with Columbus State to ensure we continue to meet the growing and changing needs of the diverse communities we serve.”
OhioHealth Hall is part of a larger campus transformation supported by the $300 million Franklin County bond issue. $66.5 million is dedicated to construction of the facility with additional support from state funding and philanthropy. The Columbus State Foundation is also working to raise another $10 million for specialized equipment inside the building.
