herr2ck: A Garden of Constants

August 2025.

Dreese Laboratories (Labs from here on out) and its iconic Postmodern tower are a fixture of Ohio State’s “skyline,” and it can be seen from many different vantage points on campus. I think the original building is one of the superior Modernist designs on campus, too. Dreese Labs is located on north campus, attached to Baker Systems to the south and bordered by the Northwest Garage to the north, Caldwell Lab to the east, and the Enarson Classroom Building to the west.

History

Prior to Dreese Labs' construction, the site was occupied by the “Cattle Building,” a barn designed by George S. Mills (the architect of Hale Hall). Its history is largely uninteresting and I couldn’t find any photos online, so this brief blurb is all I’ll write about it. It was built in 1907 and demolished in 1965.

Dreese Lab, undated. (Buckeye Stroll)

Dreese Labs was designed in 1966 by Kellam and Foley, a Columbus firm that also designed Renaissance Columbus and Scioto Downs. Like their other work, Dreese Labs is in the Mid-Century Modern style, framed in concrete and clad in brick. It was built as the “Electronics Laboratory.” Construction began in July, by Robert W. Setterlin & Sons, Co., and the building was released for occupancy on February 21, 1969. Dreese Lab originally had 38,551 square feet of space and cost $2.9 million.

Dreese Labs’ original footprint.

In 1992, a Postmodern addition was designed for the west side of Dreese Labs. The architect was Moody Nolan, a large Columbus firm, which is also the largest minority-owned firm in the United States. It was meant to house the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer and Information Science. The project cost about $20.5 million and added 90,000 gross square footage to the building. The general contractor was Knowlton Construction Co.

Dreese Labs’ current footprint.

In 2004, the “Garden of Constants” sculpture garden was installed on the west side of Dreese Labs. Barbara Grygutis, an Arizona artist, won the competition over 130 others. The university thought it best matched the program of Dreese Labs (electrical engineering and computer science). The installation includes large sculptures of the numbers 0-9 and inscriptions in the sidewalk’s concrete, which are the “mathematical and formulaic constants used primarily in electrical engineering and computer science.”

Erwin Dreese in 1959. (OSU ECE)

The Electronics Laboratory was renamed to “Dreese Laboratories” in 1977 after Erwin Dreese. Dreese became the second chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1930, a position he held until 1965.

Photos

You’ll have to excuse my shoddy exterior photos of Dreese, as I made the mistake of doing this the first day of classes. (I have two days off a week and didn’t have class that day.) People were EVERYWHERE, which both annoyed me and made it tough to get certain shots, as I’d be in the way or others would obstruct me. I even waited in the adjacent Journalism Building for half an hour, since traffic usually ebbs and flows as classes are in session, but it literally never let up. Here’s a view of the original building, looking northwest:

The vertical mullions are very Miesian and highlight the building’s height, as does the massive, uninterrupted brick pier in the corner. The glass is all replacements from the time of the addition, but I think it works okay.

The shorter side of the Moody Nolan addition:

As you can tell by the tent, the poster sale was ongoing, which may have contributed to the crowds.

The south facade:

I don’t understand why the original building just stops so abruptly on the west side and that the large pier to the east isn’t carried over. It takes away much of the design’s visual weight, and it seems like a stupid cost-cutting measure.

Detail of the ubiquitous metal sans-serif sign on all these Modern-era designs:

A little more abstract, but here’s the moment where the addition and original building connect:

The west end of the building, which is entirely Moody Nolan’s addition:

The original building’s fenestration is referenced through the large glass curtain walls on the west face of the two projections, but the rest is funky PoMo stuff. Lots of curves, weird window shapes, and a general busyness. I’d say the end result is pleasant, more grounded than some of the other designs from this era.

I like this part the best with its balcony and funny cornice:

The north side:

Here are a few photos of the “garden of constants.” First is the big 0, which is surrounded by a little plaza:

These others are all bunched up:

Okay, time to go inside now. I got a lot more photos here, which should make up for the lack of them before. Most of the main building’s first floor is taken up by a giant lecture hall, but the space around it is a big, glassy study space:

First floor hallway:

Based on the fact that this is the hallway of the addition, I bet some renovation work was done inside the original, too:

I love this colorful tile bench and backsplash--this was the kind of stuff I remember from growing up:

This is the second floor hallway of the original building--most floors are mostly offices, while the addition seems to have the classrooms:

More Postmodern stuff, luckily on the whimsical side away from pastiche…this portico into the conference room:

Very simple and geometric, like something a kid would build out of blocks. Meanwhile, one of the department offices is stuck in the 1970s:

Looking down the skybridge to Caldwell:

The stairs of the original building are bare concrete, which gives a very Knowlton-like vibe:

What’s interesting is the holes for the rebar have various bottle caps/garbage stuffed inside them, which adds a touch of color to the otherwise gray walls. It’s like a subtler version of Knowlton’s graffiti.

I like these retro diffused lights over the elevators here:

I skipped to the 8th floor, and the vibes there were much different and weirder.

You have these awesome, top-floor offices with views of the stadium…and they just sit unused.

At least the views were sick! Here’s looking west:

Caldwell Lab, Bolz Hall, the Physics Research Building, Scott Lab, and Ramseyer Hall are all prominent parts of the skyline here.

North was even cooler:

I spy Knowlton Hall, Hitchcock Hall, the business school, St. John Arena, Drackett Tower, Lawrence Tower, and even the Schott and Riverwatch Tower.

Ever since I had seen this building I wondered what was in the room with the huge balcony. I found it here…it’s a lounge for faculty and grad students: