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Building

Architect Norman Pfeiffer (1940-2023) served as Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer's partner in charge for the 21,000-square-foot Columbus Occupational Health Association Building (COHA), located east of the downtown. It was sited on land owned by Cummins, Incorporated. Operations began in 1973, and the Modern building stood for about 47 years.

Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer collaborated with the Vermont-based landcape architecture firm Dan Kiley and Associates on the project.

The Columbus Republic.com said of it: "Designed as an innovative space to deliver medical services, the building features a tremendous amount of glass, open spaces with sloped walkways and exposed mechanicals that were once painted in bright colors, but later revamped. The building was honored in 1976 with a national American Institute of Architects honor award, in which the jury said that 'careful organization of the ordinary mechanical and structural elements brings interest and excitement to this small health center — a well-organized plan exposes routine medical functions to both patient and technician which relieves the tedium of clinical work and the anxiety of patients.'"

In his obituary of Norman Pfeiffer in the Los Angeles Times.com, Shane Reiner-Roth said of the COHA: "The Columbus Occupational Health Center, completed in 1973 in Columbus, Indiana — a city bearing architectural gems from the likes of Eero Saarinen, Robert Venturi and I.M. Pei — became one of Pfeiffer’s first major projects that unambiguously put people first. When it was selected for a national AIA Honor Award in 1976, the jury applauded the clear organization of its many facilities, “which relieves the tedium of clinical work and the anxiety of patients,” as well as its vibrantly hued mechanical and structural systems designed to further elucidate the building’s many components." (See Shane Reiner-Roth, Los Angeles Times.com, "," published 08/29/2023, accessed 10/27/2023.)

As noted in The Republic.com article, Cummins made efforts with community members to decide on an alternative use for the COHA, but none could be developed. The combined national importance of both the architects and landscape architect could not, in the end, save the building from destruction.

Building Notes

Recipient, American Institute of Architects, Honor Award, 1976.

Alteration

According to the 2020 article in The Columbus Republic.com newspaper: "The building was among those that sustained damage in the 2008 Columbus flood, and repair work was done on the facility at that time." (See The Columbus Republic.com, "Cummins to demolish COHA building," published 09/05/2020, accessed 10/27/2023.)

Demolition

The Columbus Occupational Health Association Building was likely demolished during 10-11/2020. (See The Columbus Republic.com, "Cummins to demolish COHA building," published 09/05/2020, accessed 10/27/2023.)

PCAD id: 24835