Excited to see 9th & High going vertical

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I recently had the opportunity to visit the 9th & High Off Campus Student Housing project site in Columbus, Ohio, which will have twelve stories of mass timber supported on a one-story concrete podium making it the tallest mass timber student housing building in the U.S. And after spending months working through the design, it was great to see the building starting to take shape in real time. Being on site is always so rewarding because you see your hard work translated into construction.

I was there alongside Jon Guttello, and we were able to walk the site and review progress on the structure as it continues to move forward. The concrete structure is well underway, with the core walls currently being poured ahead of the slabs. The contractor made the decision to advance the cores to gain time in the construction schedule, and they are expected to be topped out within the next month.

During our visit, we were able to review the rebar and post tensioning layout for the first podium slab pour. Seeing the reinforcement in place always brings a different level of understanding to the design. Details that exist on drawings become much more tangible once they are laid out in the field, and it is a valuable opportunity to confirm constructability and intent.

One of the most exciting aspects of this project is what comes next: the mass timber, which is slated to arrive in May, marking the transition into the next phase of construction. I am looking forward to being back on site when that work begins and seeing how the structure continues to come together.

Rendering by DLR Group

Site visits like this are always a reminder of why we do what we do. After months of coordination, analysis, and documentation, seeing a project move from drawings into reality is both rewarding and motivating. It is a chance to connect the work on paper with the people and effort that bring it to life.

Developer: Harbor Bay Ventures

Architect: DLR Group

Contractor: Elford Inc.