August 2025.
Enarson Classroom Building is probably one of the most unusual and out-of-the-way academic buildings on campus. It was built as a warehouse attached to McCracken Power Plant, but in the 1980s it was converted to classroom space. Enarson Classroom Building is located on north campus, bordered by the Tuttle Garage to the north, McCracken Power Plant to the south, Dreese Labs to the east, and the Maintenance Building to the west.
History
Historic photo of the Central Services Building c. 1950s. (Knowlton Archives)
Enarson Classroom Building was designed by university architect Howard Dwight Smith in 1947 as a receiving facility and warehouse. As such, it has a simple industrial design. Its construction began around December 1948, the general contractor being George Sheaf and Company, and the building was fully completed by January 1, 1950. With a concrete frame and brick curtain walls, it has about 74,000 square feet of space.
Aside from its above-mentioned program, it consolidated various university needs into one building, such as laundry, storage, and a garage. Additionally, it was built with cold-storage facilities for food.
Exterior in 2010, after renovation. (Buckeye Stroll)
During the late 1980s, Ohio State was moving its industrial buildings away from main campus and across the Olentangy River, and in 1985 a replacement for this building was being designed. This freed up space for more classrooms. Enarson Classroom Building was then renovated to accommodate students (possibly in 1995, as the Historic Campus Map claims that it was separated from its neighbor and renamed that year), which resulted in the new Postmodern windows and east entrance. It has mostly gone unupdated since, beyond some furniture and different offices being headquartered there.
Harold Enarson. (OSU Office of the President)
The Central Services Building was renamed “Central Classroom Building” in 1995, and again to “Enarson Classroom Building” in 2013 after Hale Hall’s name was changed from Enarson Hall. Both Hale Hall’s old name and Enarson Classroom Building’s current name are a homage to Harold Enarson (1919-2006), the ninth president of The Ohio State University. Enarson was born in Iowa and grew up in New Mexico during the Great Depression, graduating from the University of New Mexico in 1940 and enlisting in the army shortly afterwards. He earned a doctorate from American University and began his administrative career as Administrative Vice President at University of New Mexico. In 1965, he was named the first president of the newly-founded Cleveland State University, and he served as Ohio State’s president from 1972-1981. He sought to create more opportunities for women, minorities, and students with disabilities, but he’s probably best remembered for being the one to fire Woody Hayes after he punched a Clemson player.
Photos
Here is the principal, east facade of Enarson Classroom Building:
It was tough to get straight-on because of Dreese Labs being right behind me. I have this other shot from March 2024 from a different angle:
The Postmodern columned entrance, which is reminiscent of a classical portico:
Detail of the fenestration and brickwork:
Since this was built as a warehouse, the details are very subtle. A soldier course crowned with two header courses lines the area above the windows, providing a little vertical emphasis. The windows are replacements, and the metal spandrels with geometric details are likewise not original.
The north facade:
Again, a bit of an awkward angle, but this isn’t a masterpiece of architecture here.
These loading docks in back have been repurposed, and glass windows have replaced what were ostensibly metal garage doors:
Detail of a slightly projecting pier, where the stairs are located:
This technically isn’t part of Enarson, but it’s right next door, so these next couple photos will cover the wing connecting the building to McCracken. These windows are more recent replacements:
Fading yellow sign:
Another ancient paint sign:
Okay, time to go inside. The lobby was heavily altered in the 1990s and modified again more recently:
A better look at the contemporary stuff:
One lovely anachronistic part of the lobby is these funky light poles. They look like something I would have seen in a mall growing up:
On either ramp on the way to the elevators/stairs, there are giant posters of Harold Enarson:
I wish that was still true, Mr. President, but I don’t really think it is anymore. At least not for the current administration.
Most of the second/third floor is pretty uninteresting fare, just typical 90s decor and finishes.
I do like these tiled backsplashes and benches, though…very nostalgic for me:
If you look hard enough, the warehouse remnants are still around--here’s the typical “martini glass” column left exposed:
According to the university’s master plan Framework 3.0, Enarson will be left alone for the time being. These late Postmodern-era designs are disappearing quickly, so I’m glad this one is sticking around for a little while longer.
Sources:
https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/24059
https://library.osu.edu/site/buckeyestroll/
https://knowltondl.osu.edu/Browse/objects/facet/collection_facet/id/18
https://maps.osu.edu/historic/
https://web.archive.org/web/20090407044930/http://president.osu.edu/past_presidents.php
https://news.osu.edu/ohio-state-mourns-death-of-former-president/
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