September 2025.
Meiling Hall was built along with Graves Hall to the east. Though Graves Hall takes the bland, overly generic brick box typology of campus Modernism, I think Meiling Hall’s glassy New Formalist design is much more interesting. Its superb stained glass windows also shocked me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any historic photos that were free for me to use.
Meiling Hall is located on medical campus. It is bordered by Prior Hall, Fry Hall, and 10th Avenue to the north; 9th Avenue to the south; and Medical Center Drive and the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital to the west. It is attached to Graves Hall to the east.
History
Meiling Hall was designed by C. Curtiss Inscho and Associates in 1966 as the “College of Medicine Administration Building.” Its construction began in September 1967, and aside from a few mechanical rooms, it was completed on June 22, 1970. It is a highly unusual example of the New Formalist style on campus, an offshoot of Modernism influenced by classical expression and organization, being framed in steel with a brick and glass exterior.
The building was renamed “Meiling Hall” in 1984, after Richard L. Meiling (1908-1984). His many duties included being a professor, dean of the College of Medicine, director of University Hospitals, and vice president of Medical Affairs. He served in World War II from 1940-1946 and later conducted important research on Vitamin C and cobalt-60.
Photos
The principal facade of Meiling Hall is mostly obscured by trees:
I like this large “scarlet sign” and the flowers surrounding it:
A closer look at the main facade:
The expression of this building is basically a concrete platform on piloti straddling a glass cube.
The entrance and gridded windows surrounding:
Here is where I think Meiling Hall has some touches of New Formalism. The overhanging “cornice” and emphasis on the columns are common features of classically influenced architecture.
The roof’s overhang also features coffers, another common classical feature. This picture came out unusually well:
It’s interesting to me how they planted a tree in the void between the building’s plus-shape:
West facade:
The north facade is mostly brick, much different than the glassier portions elsewhere:
The window is bordered by pilasters:
Northeast corner:
This seal above the doors is awesome.
I didn’t really stick around much inside, only to see the stained-glass. The main design sits right on top of the main stairs:
Definitely very modern and abstract, but still super cool. It explores the history of medicine over time:
Certain parts project from the face too, like Pasteur’s glassware:
This other window includes Ohio and Ohio State designs. It definitely takes a more Anglo-Saxon-forward viewpoint (note the prominence of the white figures vs. the others), but that’s a sign of the times this building was designed in.
It seems that Meiling Hall will be demolished soon for the construction of a larger building, which is unfortunate. I think it is one of the better examples of mid-century architecture on campus.
Sources:
https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/24059
https://knowltondl.osu.edu/Browse/objects/facet/collection_facet/id/18
https://maps.osu.edu/historic/
https://hsl.osu.edu/dept/medical-heritage-center/ll-richard-meiling
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