THE POINT AT OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY
Westerville, Ohio
Otterbein University envisioned creating a groundbreaking interdisciplinary ecosystem where students, faculty, industry partners, and community members could collaboratively innovate, breaking down silos between academic disciplines while preparing graduates for the rapidly evolving professional landscape.
CHALLENGE
SOLUTION
WSA transformed a remote warehouse into The Point – a dynamic 42,000 square-foot innovation center that reimagines how education, industry, and community intersect. The design centers around a striking sculptural red canopy that anchors the heart of the facility, symbolizing both Otterbein's cardinal mascot and the building's role as a beacon of innovation on campus.
The spatial organization deliberately blurs traditional boundaries, with transparent classrooms that open into event spaces, flexible maker labs accessible to both students and community members, and industry partner offices integrated alongside academic areas. This intentional transparency creates visual connections that foster spontaneous collaboration while demonstrating the value of cross-disciplinary thinking.
Throughout the facility, we created a spectrum of environments that support different modes of learning and working. The materiality balances the warehouse's industrial character with warm, energetic insertions that create a space both sophisticated enough for corporate partners and approachable enough for students to make their own. Environmental graphics celebrate innovation and reinforce the building's identity as a place where education evolves beyond traditional paradigms.
The Point has catalyzed remarkable transformation across Otterbein and the surrounding community. Engineering enrollment has quadrupled since its opening, while the university has expanded from one to four engineering disciplines. The facility has attracted major corporate partners including JPMorgan Chase and Nestlé, bringing over 100 jobs to Westerville and creating invaluable professional opportunities for students. Beyond metrics, The Point has fundamentally shifted how education happens at Otterbein, breaking down traditional discipline boundaries and creating new pathways between theory and practice. Community members now engage with the university through maker space rentals and youth camps, while professionals access continuing education through certificate programs.
