The
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Bike racks and playgrounds – both make healthy choices easier. Thank you to The Commons for helping create a healthier community. Welcome Back!
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A note from Mayor Fred Armstrong Quick facts & community comments Q & A with The Commons manager Reflections on the project’s history Details of the new and improved facility ‘Chaos’ is still front and center
The Commons | Summer 2011
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Where you’ll see the C’s City views: The Commons inside-out
Photos from behind the scenes The Commons promotes downtown growth A look at The Commons’ first public events Grand opening | June 2-5, 2011
Opposite page: (left) A view of Washington and Third streets through the C-style windows inside the playground. Photo by Alton Strupp. (right) The Commons at night. Photo by Andrew Laker. This page: (top) The escalator in the Miller-Tangeman Lobby. Photo by Andrew Laker. (middle) Cushioned stools add a splash of color and whimsy to a seating area. Photo by Alton Strupp. (bottom) Silhouettes of children as they play on the Luckey Climber. Photo by Andrew Laker.
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Letter from the
mayor
Back when I was a Columbus city police officer, I watched as the original Commons was built. After construction finished, it became an important part of my family’s activities. My daughters, Shannon and Gretchen, loved playing on the indoor playground. My oldest granddaughter, Josie Royer, also loved the indoor playground, and she was afraid when it closed that she would be too tall to play there when it reopened. Josie wrote her first Letter to the Editor when she was 9 years old: Dear Mr. Editor, My name is Josie and I am 9 years old. My mom is helping me type this letter and helping me make sure my spelling is ok. I am a good speller though and I am a good student. I really liked to go to the playground in the Commons. On cold days when school was out, my mom and me would go to the playground and eat pizza for lunch. I miss the Commons. We could go there even when it was summer and raining. My friend had a birthday party there one time and we all had a good time and we all want to go back again. I want to go back to the Commons and take my little cousin who was not old enough to go with me before. It was a nice place to play and eat and kids miss it. My pawpaw said it will be built again but it might take a long time. I’m afraid I will be too tall so please hurry up. There are lots of kids who haven’t been there and there are lots of kids who are getting tall. Thank you Mr. Editor. Josie is probably too tall to play at The Commons now. But the little cousin whom she wrote about, Ellie Brand, will be able to enjoy the Commons playground, as will Ellie’s two sisters, Amelia and Harper Brand. Ours is only one of hundreds of stories from hundreds of families who have fond memories of The Commons and The Commons playground. I want to thank the private donors and the public for the support that made the new Commons possible. This is a unique public facility that the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County have enjoyed for the last 35 years and will now enjoy for generations to come. Welcome back, Commons! You have been missed.
Fred L. Armstrong
Columbus Mayor Fred Armstrong with grandchildren Ellie Brand, left, Amelia Brand and Josie Royer Photo by Andrew Laker.
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The Commons | Summer 2011
The Commons | Summer 2011
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The
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ON THE COVER The Commons at night. Photo by Andrew Laker
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The Commons | Summer 2011
T
How The Commons Has Changed
What’s new in the redeveloped Commons? Ed Curtin, executive director of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, shared a few of the biggest changes from the old facility. (Don’t worry: “Chaos” is still the centerpiece, same as always.) Compiled by Ashley Petry & Doug Showalter
The 3,000-square-foot indoor playground accommodated kids of all ages, but it had to be closed during special events because the playground noise interrupted the stage performances nearby.
A 5,000-square-foot indoor playground is divided into three ageappropriate areas, with the Luckey Climber as a special feature. Sliding glass doors now separate the playground and food court from the special-events area.
The first-floor performance space had limited lighting, outmoded sound equipment and makeshift projection capabilities. And the stage was too small to accommodate a full orchestra.
The performance space — now on the second floor — has a large stage, high-definition projection capabilities and modern lighting and sound equipment, with better acoustic design.
The Commons — with its huge walls of old-fashioned glass — racked up utility costs of $170,000 per year.
As a LEED-certified, energy-efficient building, the new Commons has an estimated annual utility cost of $85,000.
The facility had limited outdoor space for special events.
The facility has a second-floor terrace along Third Street, which is accessible from inside or from an outdoor staircase.
Retail space was tucked away from Washington Street, with frequent vacancies and low interest among retailers.
The Commons has about 8,000 square feet of retail space along Washington Street, including a designated restaurant space.
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The Commons | Summer 2011
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The Commons | Summer 2011
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“No other building in Columbus better represents the spirit of this community. The Commons has been at the center of our community’s life for more than 35 years. No other development in the downtown, or Columbus for that matter, will be as important a contributor to our economic growth and development as the new Commons. Its design and construction say a lot about who we are, what we stand for and our belief in the future. From a personal perspective, it is extremely gratifying to have been involved in the effort to bring The Commons back to life so that generations to come will be able to enjoy and enliven this wonderful space.” — Tom Vujovich, Columbus Redevelopment Commission president Photo by Joe Harpring
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The Commons | Summer 2011
Celebrity Sightings Which celebrities and performing arts groups have graced The Commons stage? Here’s a quick look. Comedian Heywood Banks
Mezzosoprano Jane Dutton Photo courtesy of janedutton.com
Ford
Beatles tribute band The Fab Four
Renner Motors Incorporated Since 1948
Here for the long haul. Photo by Lindsay Ganson
Country music singer Janie Fricke Jazz trumpet player Dizzy Gillespie Indianapolis Ballet photo by: The Studio Right on the Corner!
RENNER FORD Right on the Price!
US 31, Columbus • (812) 372–1561 • (800) 467–8450 www.rennermotors.com
www.indianapoliscityballet.org
Pop music trio The Lettermen Louisville Ballet
Great taste and style. Conveniently located in downtown Columbus.
Country music duo Pinkard & Bowden Performance group Pump Boys and Dinettes Touring company The Second City American singer Mary Wells
Ladies’ Shop
1202 Washington Street, Columbus (812) 376-8363 www.lockettsladiesshop.com The Commons | Summer 2011
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MICKEY KIM Photo by Alton Strupp PAGE 16
The Commons | Summer 2011
“We, as a community, have always endeavored to provide our citizens with great schools, parks, public works, art and entertainment. I believe The Commons was an iconic symbol of what we strive for as a community. The Commons was a magical place where memories were made. I am so proud our community came together and, in a true 50/50 public-private partnership, had the vision and courage to embark on this journey in the face of the Flood of 2008 and the worst financial calamity in decades. The new Commons is our gift to our children and future generations. I can’t wait for the magic and memories to begin anew.” —Mickey Kim, development chairman, Heritage Fund—The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County
“During the A Cause in Common campaign, we went to many local schools and shared with them a plan to have the children indicate their support by donating their dimes, nickels and quarters to the building campaign. As a result of that, thousands of children in our community are now listed as donors. Those same kids will probably attend prom at the new Commons, and they are the ones who are going to be looking at Columbus and asking whether it’s a place they want to live.” —Dave Barker, member, Heritage Fund Development Committee
Congratulations! Two traditions withstanding the test of time.
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“I can’t wait to see the children in the playground, a variety of people gathering in the different spaces and more restaurants with outdoor seating. This is an exciting time for the downtown!” —Sarla Kalsi, Irwin Management Co. SARLA KALSI Photo by Alton Strupp
“Two comments I’ve heard from people have really stuck with me. One young lady who was not happy with us for taking down the old Commons was in for a tour and said, “Gosh, this is like The Commons on steroids.” Another person said, “Everywhere I look I see elements of the old Commons.” I think what we’ve done a really good job of is taking all the things people loved in the old Commons and repackaging them into something new and better. I think it will quickly become that family living room where people want to come and spend time.” ED CURTIN Photo by Alton Strupp
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—Ed Curtin, executive director, Columbus Redevelopment Commission
“Personally, I think the new Commons is even better than the old Commons! The upstairs space is spectacular, and the playground is really fun. Will Miller and I raced to the top of the Luckey Climber a few weeks ago ... and had a blast! On a more serious note: As we learned during the remonstrance, The Commons really is a ‘common ground’ for Columbus residents. So many people, from so many backgrounds and points of view, came out to express their support for rebuilding The Commons. They shared memories of taking their kids to the playground or seeing a performance or just meeting friends and family ... and they wanted to make sure
future generations had the same opportunity to build memories. The Welcoming Community study highlighted the need to have a ‘third place’ ... a place to hang out when you were not at home or at work. Vision 20/20 picked up that objective in its plan to revitalize downtown. We really had no idea how we would pull off an $18 million project in the midst of a severe economic crisis. But as Columbus demonstrates over and over again, the ability of an effective and united public-private partnership can make amazing things happen. What a lasting gift and legacy from the Miller family. Columbus is so very lucky.” — Tracy Souza, Cummins Foundation president
Photo by Andrew Laker The Commons | Summer 2011
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“The Commons is something that is just amazing for a community our size, with under 40,000 people, to come up with $18 million, $9 million came from the city, the rest from individuals and trust organizations. I think that’s totally unprecedented for a city our size.” — Bob Stevens, Commons committee chairman, pictured with his wife, Barbara Photo by Alton Strupp
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The Commons | Summer 2011
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DAVID DOUP Photo by Andrew Laker
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The Commons | Summer 2011
“The new Commons will get its warmth, color and character from the people and events. The old Commons we knew as an old friend, while the new Commons we will come to know as a better friend.” —Chris Crawl, technical director for the Columbus Area Arts Council
Photo by Alton Strupp
“With the grand reopening of The Commons, the new areas for play, performance and gatherings will be bright, flexible, fun, engaging and maybe even a little whimsical. The areas will be highly flexible for a very wide variety of both formal and informal programming activities. The new playground will feature some really new, exciting activity features that children of all ages will enjoy for many, many years to come. With the new glass walls, there
will be wonderful viewing vistas from both inside and outside The Commons. The energy efficiencies that have been incorporated into this facility will provide wonderful efficiencies for the long-term benefit of our entire community. ‘Chaos I’ has been preserved in place and operationally modernized with new back-of-the-house electronics. Its prominence has been greatly enhanced by its new spacious surroundings. Our community is so blessed
to have worked together to create this new facility from seeds that were planted in the first Commons by the Miller and Tangeman families. As just another member of this community, I’m very proud of this renewed community treasure that will help further the vision that these families started many years ago. This facility will pay dividends to our community for many generations to come.” —David Doup, Columbus Redevelopment Commission
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“The Commons is known as the community’s living room. It has been an honor and a joy to work on getting our living room reopened. I love the performance hall. I love the opportunities that the performance hall will provide to so many different organizations and groups in the Columbus area. Anyone who enjoys people watching should take some time and watch the children playing on the playground. The joy on their faces is terrific. I was so pleased to be able to introduce the playground to my grandchildren, because both of my children enjoyed it so much.”
Innovation Under Construction.
sm
—Alice Curry, coordinator, The Commons celebration steering committee
Welcome Home!
After t ven u o H rs E l! Renta
Birthda y Parties!
From your neighbor directly across the street.
“The Commons is one of the things that make Columbus really special. I’ve never lived in a town that had a meeting place like that before, and I’m proud of it. … One year we had a Beatles cover band performing at The Commons, and that was the only time we’d ever sold all the way out. People were trying to sneak in the back door. It was hectic, but it was a lot of fun.” —Warren Ward, board member, Friends of the Commons
Explore three floors of hands-on exhibits & activities for families with toddlers to early teens.
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The Commons | Summer 2011
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turday: 10 AM–5 PM Sunday: 1 PM–5 PM
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ALICE CURRY Photo by Alton Strupp The Commons | Summer 2011
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“I grew up in Columbus and spent countless hours playing on the playground, walking through the mall and experiencing community events in and around The Commons. As a child, I did not fully appreciate all of the great things this town has to offer ... including The Commons. I believe many residents, including myself, were only able to fully appreciate the value of The Commons in its absence, shortly after demolition. My kids, age 7 and 9, even realized the gap, and as we drove by would ask me, ‘Dad, how long until the playground is open?’ My answer did not bring smiles as I replied, ‘A couple years, kids; it’ll be a long time.’ Well the ‘long time’ has passed quickly, and as we prepare to open The Commons to the public, I am awestruck by its beauty and blend of form and function. I can’t wait to see kids on the playground again.” BEN WAGNER Photo by Joe Harpring
ROD MARLOW Photo by Andrew Laker PAGE 26
The Commons | Summer 2011
—Ben Wagner, executive director, Columbus Parks and Recreation Department
“During the remonstrance, the community really came together wanting to save The Commons. It was wonderful to see the united effort. People would talk about being young, visiting The Commons and playing on the playground. They enjoyed it, and they wanted their children and grandchildren to experience the same thing. I had over 300 volunteers carrying petitions door to door, and in the end we had 6,745 signatures in favor of The Commons versus 420 for the opposition. It came out overwhelmingly that the Columbus community wanted The Commons back.”
SHEPHERD I NSURANCE & F INANCIAL S E RV I C E S
savings are always in bloom
—Ray Zeigler, chairman, Save the Commons campaign
Yellow petitions “in favor of” and blue petitions “in opposition to” The Commons project were used during the remonstrance. Photo by Andrew Laker.
“I was a sales rep prior to changing jobs recently, and I saw that downtowns in most communities the size of Columbus were devastated by the lack of an anchor and the lack of vision. When I moved to Columbus in 2009, I saw what The Commons used to be and the vision for the future, and I thought, “This is important.” —Rod Marlow, volunteer, Save the Commons campaign
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Photo by Alton Strupp
“It took more than a year, but Columbus stepped up handsomely, and in not-good economic times. I continue to be impressed by the citizens of Columbus and their commitment to its well-being. I think Columbus has always been exceptional at thinking about what future generations are going to need. I
think that’s unusual in communities our size, the ability to look ahead and say, ‘What should we be doing now to keep this community vital?’ I think that the new Commons will pick right up where the old one was and will be a real gathering place for the community … for all the community.” —Jim Henderson, headed the private sector fund drive for The Commons
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“The opening of the new Commons is another great moment in the history of Columbus. It is the result of forward-looking government and business leaders coming together with local taxpayers in a public/ private partnership to continue this world-class facility. The creative design, along with its unique playground and entertainment facilities, will attract thousands of local residents and out-of-town visitors annually. (It is) another great example of why Columbus is admired as one of the best communities in which to live!” —Chuck Wilt, former executive director, Columbus Parks and Recreation Department
Photo by Joe Harpring PAGE 30
The Commons | Summer 2011
Photo by Andrew Laker
“Former Mayor Bob Stewart always referred to downtown as ‘everybody’s neighborhood.’ I agree with him on that thought and would go on to say that The Commons has always been ‘everybody’s family room.’ It is a place that feels like home—that is, welcoming, hospitable and a good place to entertain friends and family. One of my fondest memories is the day the original playground was dedicated. Once children were allowed into the space, it was nearly impossible to see even the smallest piece of green carpet as jubilant children raced to explore every inch of the playground. At that moment I looked to my left and saw Irwin and Xenia Miller and Clementine Tangeman standing off to one side eating
ice cream cones and watching the children. All three were beaming as they watched the community’s youngest citizens enthusiastically claim the playground as their own. That’s a memory I’ll never forget. Families came from near and far to ride the escalator and the glass elevator. And every out-of-town visitor simply had to be brought downtown to stare in wonder at ‘Chaos I.’ I could go on and on. The original Commons was a wonder, but I’m convinced that our new Commons— made possible through the generous support of thousands—will be even more loved by one and all.” —Sherry Stark, executive director, Heritage Fund—The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County The Commons | Summer 2011
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WILL MILLER Photo by Alton Strupp PAGE 32
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“I was a member of The Commons committee that Bob Stevens led, and I got to help interpret all of the wonderful input from as many as 5,000 people on what they valued and what they wanted. Then I worked with the designers to help them realize that in physical form. I think the new Commons is a great thing for the community, in large part because it has all of the old elements of The Commons that have meant so much to us, but those elements have all been enhanced. “I was a little worried at first that the performance space being moved to the second floor might lose some of the grandeur that it had in the old Commons. I think with the introduction of the skylight and painting it all white, it’s still very grand. It works a lot better. “The playground is awesome. My kids said they were jealous that it wasn’t there when they were growing up. I think the same thing. Yes, I have been up the Luckey Climber … twice. It was great. “There’s funding, now, to keep the place up for the long term. My hope is that it is now truly sustainable. We won’t be at a place years from now where it has to be redone from top to bottom. New funding mechanisms and political support will keep it from ever reaching the point that the former one ever did.” —Will Miller, Irwin Management Co. chairman
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LISA WESTENBERGER Photo by Joe Harpring
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Manager excited to show off what’s new BY Kelsey DeClue
When longtime Columbus resident Lisa Westenberger accepted the position as the new manager of The Commons, she knew she would be putting to use her community development experience, as well as her passion for helping downtown Columbus thrive. In her new role, Westenberger works with groups who want to rent The Commons for public and private functions, while lending a hand in various fundraising and marketing efforts. She is a “jack-of-all-trades,” and her new job feels a lot like a “perfect fit,” she says. Here, more on Westenberger’s history with The Commons, what she sees for its future, as well as the answers to some frequently asked questions. Q: Lisa, what are some memories you have of the former Commons? A: Actually, I remember walking in there as a kid for the first time and looking at that wide open space and thinking, ‘Wow, what is this place?’ I thought it was so neat. I had that same feeling when I walked back in this building for the first time. Q: What do you look forward to most in your role as manager? A: It’s a one-of-a-kind structure, and there’s certainly no place in Columbus—let alone this half of the state — that has anything comparable. People will come from all over to see it, to have their kids play on the playground. What a great place to come to work every day. Q: What do you want people to know about the new Commons? A: This space is exactly what Columbus needs. The entire community can be a part of it because there is something for everyone. You can have your private function here, see a concert here or just come and bring your lunch and sit on the patio. It’s the community’s living room. Q: When is The Commons open to the public? A: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Q: Are outside food and drink allowed in The Commons? A: Yes. The building has designated public seating areas and tables available for public use. Q: Does The Commons have Wi-Fi? A: Yes, and it’s free! Q: Is there an age limit for the playground use? A: The playground does have age-designated areas for toddlers, preschoolers and for children ages 5 to 12. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to supervise their kids. Q: What areas of The Commons are available for rent? A: There are four areas (Xenia Miller Conference Room, the Miller-Tangeman Lobby, the Patio and the Nugent-Custer Performance Hall) available for rent. Those areas may be combined to accommodate any event size. For more information visit www.thecommonscolumbus.com. The Commons | Summer 2011
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BY HARRY MCCAWLEY
F
Above: The empty lot created before The Commons was built, in the 1970s. Opposite page: The May Faire parade on Washington Street, outside The Commons, on June 3, 1974. The Republic file photos.
or an afterthought, The Commons has turned out to be a great investment for the people of Bartholomew County. In fact, the gleaming and colorful civic center that officially reopened in 2011 wasn’t even included in the original planning for what was envisioned as an enclosed shopping center that would arrest the alarming exodus of retail establishments from the downtown. The wisdom of its insertion into the concept for a complex initially known as “Super Block” is attested to by the three-decade life span of the original community center and the overwhelming desire of local residents to retain it in a modernized format for future generations of residents and visitors. Its roots go back to the 1960s, when downtown Columbus was experiencing the pains of its peers across the country — an aging infrastructure of blighted buildings and a steady exodus of retail businesses, many of which traced their history in the downtown area to the 19th century. In what could be called a 20th-century “two-fer,” J. Irwin Miller, the town’s most eminent businessman, and advisers proposed
an enclosed shopping center that would span two city blocks in the heart of downtown. It would not only provide accessible shopping spaces (thus giving retailers an incentive to invest in the downtown) but remove unsightly abandoned buildings that had been overrun by rats, garbage and derelicts. The proposal was not without controversy. Opponents argued that, although dilapidated, many of the buildings were historic and part of the city’s culture. Others maintained that a modernist building would be out of keeping with the older buildings of the downtown. Organizers plowed ahead, and Miller commissioned renowned architect Cesar Pelli to design the shopping complex. It was out of correspondence between the two men that the concept of The Commons emerged. “He (Miller) asked me … how to connect it (the shopping center) with Washington Street,” Pelli recalled in a 2009 interview. “I just concluded that if we did a traditional shopping center as it was being recommended, it would do nothing for Washington Street because the life was all inward. “That’s when I proposed the idea of The
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Commons, which would be on the streets, would belong to the streets, and also would have the shopping center, but be primarily a family facility for family events. He (Miller) understood immediately. He liked the idea and accepted it.” Construction of the complex began in October 1971 with site preparation, but the framework of the building did not rise until the following spring. In November 1971, Miller, his wife, Xenia, and sister, Clementine Tangeman, gave the $2 million “civic mall” portion of the shopping center to the city of Columbus. Under terms of the original agreement, the family would pay maintenance costs for the structure through its first two years of operation. That turned out to be an arrangement that continued for more than 30 years. Pelli envisioned the public portion of the structure to include features such as a playground, a performing arts area, a restaurant and an area in which people could simply gather. An important anchor in his vision was a piece of art. And that is how “Chaos I” came to be. “I thought that a beautiful piece of sculpture in the middle of it would elevate the character of the space, and I wanted a sculpture that would put a bit of whimsy into it,” he said. “I knew of Jean Tinguely, so I contacted him, and he wrote a letter, ‘Yes, I’ll do it,’ I remember, ‘for $120,000, I’ll fabricate it in Paris and I’ll ship it over there.’” Tinguely changed his mind after visiting Columbus. He decided to create his art in the city, first at the old pump house that later became the senior center, and finally within The Commons itself. “He came to Columbus and met with the people,” Pelli said. “In fact, he fell in love with Columbus. His was a great type of genius, or luck, because the fact that he built it here, with technicians from Columbus, made the sculpture as much Columbus as Tinguely. And that was wonderful.” The indoor playground was a cornucopia of activities for children, including a spiral staircase leading up to a firefighter’s pole that children would slide down; a slide; a long, tubular “spaceship”; climbing bars; and a mini-mountain. The original plans for the area were revised in early 1972 to accommodate a movie theater that would overlook the playground. A cafeteria (Gene’s) was also positioned on the second floor on the north side. Maintaining the concept of an area for all the people, an electronic information board was installed alongside the elevated stage on the ground floor. It was to include a backprojected movie screen, space for six televisions, and bulletin and blackboards on which PAGE 38
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people could write personal messages or post fliers advertising upcoming events. In February 1973, the board announced the hiring of Susan Anderson, a program director for the St. Paul (Minn.) Arts and Sciences Museum, as the first director for the still unnamed public area. During the construction phase, that public area was referred to as the civic mall, described as a “flat name” by Owen Hungerford, who was the first president of the newly organized Commons Board. Pelli was asked his preference and suggested “Washington Hall,” but in the spring of 1973 the board took the additional step of opening the process to the public. More than 200 people participated in the naming, and 24 agreed with Pelli that Washington should be in the name, but they opted for the appellation “Washington Plaza.” Other suggested names included: Courthouse Mall, the Courtyard, People’s Place, Athenian Plaza, Tiptona Square, the Glass Promenade and White River Mall. One disgruntled resident suggested that it be called Taxpayer’s Folly. A number suggested various adaptations of the Miller, Irwin and Sweeney names (a recognition of the family foundation that would support the operation for more than 30 years), but only one suggested The Commons. That was the name the board adopted July 18, 1973, with Hungerford saying that it “gives the flavor of the purpose and activities suggested for the community center.” The retail portion of the building, named Courthouse Center, with five storefronts occupied, opened in October 1973, but it would be another eight months before the city celebrated the official opening of The Commons. That took place over a four-day weekend in June 1974 in collaboration with the annual May Faire. A huge parade was held on Washington Street, in which “Chaos” creator Jean Tinguely played a role. He led a group of area schoolchildren in painting a huge mural on Fourth Street celebrating the event. The Commons quickly became the go-to place for Columbus area residents. The first combined prom for Columbus East and North high school students was held at The Commons in May 1975. Dave Pence and Sara Chappell were crowned king and queen of the East student body, while royalty honors for North were accorded to Carol Wendel and Will Bobbs. The Commons would continue to be the site for proms through 2007. Another long tradition began in February 1976 with the first UnCommon Cause Gala and Auction. More than 200 communiThe Commons | Summer 2011
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EVENTS OVER THE YEARS: Top left: Jean Glick, Hope, dances with her husband, John, after being crowned the “Fairest Mother of Them All� at May Faire in 1975. Top right: Jim Ryser performs at The Commons. Bottom left: North and East students form a conga line, weaving around The Commons during the 2006 prom. Bottom right: Hundreds of participants enjoy the festivities during the UnCommon Cause Gala in April 2006. Opposite page: Garfield cartoonist Jim Davis works as a crowd of more than 600 watches. The Republic file photos. PAGE 40
The Commons | Summer 2011
ty volunteers helped raise more than $20,000 for programming expenses of The Commons and the Columbus Gallery of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. At the time the museum gallery was on the second floor of the Visitors Center. In 1993 it was moved to space in The Commons, a step made possible by a generous donation from Xenia Miller. The first Farmers Market was staged on the main floor in July 1975. Also that year the “Fairest Mother of Them All” was determined to be Jean Glick of Hope in an event tied to the May Faire celebration. Several hundred nominations of local women were submitted in the competition. The Commons hosted its first New Year’s Eve party in 1976, an event sponsored by the Columbus Arts Guild. One of the premier events at The Commons was the 1994 Pritzker Awards ceremony, at which the most celebrated architects from around the world gathered to not only celebrate their profession but pay honor to J. Irwin Miller for his contributions.
Over the years The Commons would be the scene of several unusual events. Ranking right at the top would be the Garfield lookalike contest that drew more than 600 people and 200 cats their owners were sure were the spitting image of the cartoon cat. Artist Jim Davis gave a demonstration of cartooning skills and judged the contest, as scores of cats were paraded past litter boxes discreetly arranged on stage. The Commons was also the scene of several Election Night watch parties, sponsored by The Republic and cablecast on the Video Action Center. Although The Commons was intended for the people of Columbus, it also drew several national figures, most by design, some by happenstance. One was former Pennsylvania Gov. William Scranton who, during a tour of the facility with members of the Cummins Engine Co. Board of Directors, tried the playground slide. The highest-ranking government official to enjoy The Commons was former Vice President Walter Mondale.
Celebrities such as pianist/commentator Mark Russell and glass sculptor Dale Chihuly appeared on The Commons stage. The community was treated to an amazing number of outstanding performances. Both the Purdue Varsity Glee Club and the Singing Hoosiers from Indiana University were featured in concerts. The Commons was not only used to dispense but to receive information. Renowned architect Paul Kennon used it as a sounding board, soliciting opinions from hundreds of residents about how their vision of downtown Columbus fit into his Streetscape plan that was launched in the 1990s. It was the setting for the gala 25th anniversary of the Columbus Area Arts Council. One of the highlights was a recognition of dozens of current and former residents who had achieved fame in the world of art. Festivals abounded throughout its history. It was home to the Jazz Festival, the Apple Festival, the Festival of the Trees, the Gospel Music Festival, just to name a few. Eventually, though, the building reached a The Commons | Summer 2011
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point where its bones were showing their age. Although there had been major repairs made to various elements inside the building, such as the flooring and playground areas (Who can forget those early days when garbage cans were scattered about the parquet floor to catch rain drops that had seeped through the leaking roof?) the basic infrastructure by 2007 was essentially what had been put in place in the early 1970s. The community was faced with a decision to either undertake a major renovation or gut the original structure and essentially start from scratch. Estimated costs of the renovation ran to as much as $10 million, and that step would involve the rehabilitation of the old. Instead, community leaders elected to demolish the building, leaving only the framework of Pelli’s original design in place. The new building was intended as a joint undertaking by the public and private sectors. The estimated cost of the new structure was set at $18 million, half to be raised through private means and the other half to be supplied through a bond issued by the city. Contributions of $3 million each were made by the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation and the Heritage Fund: the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County. Another $3 million was raised in a general fund drive headed by former Cummins Inc. Chairman Jim Henderson. Columbus City Council approved the issuance of a $9 million bond, but that was challenged by a remonstrance drive led by individuals opposed to using public funds for the project. Supporters of both sides had to collect signatures for their cause. In the final tabulation those property owners in favor of the project numbered 6,835. The opponents mustered 413 signatures — a margin of 16 to 1. The final event in the old Commons was a New Year’s Eve party in 2007. A few weeks later work began on the dismantling of the building. A new Commons has risen in its place, one that’s somewhat different in looks and a great improvement over what some had considered to be an ideal place for the people of Columbus to gather. It is that … and much more.
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A NEW BEGINNING: Top: A view from inside The Commons during the first week of demolition. Photo by Christopher Crawl. Middle: Workers for Millennium Steel prepare to raise the signature beam into the new structure in 2010. Bottom: Clyce Smith cuts timber for a concrete form near the future playground. Photos by Joe Harpring.
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The blur of a car’s taillights on Washington Street. Photo by Andrew Laker.
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New community space offers a nod to the past while celebrating the future BY SHERRI CULLISON The Commons | Summer 2011
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S
huffle through CSO Architects’ Steven Risting’s slide show created for the April 26 donor reception at The Commons, and you’ll see a story emerge. It’s a story told in short, fragmented clips.
“The new Commons is still the original Commons” “… with a new second floor …” “… and a little bit of white paint.” “The new Commons is the place to showcase public activities” “… with ultra-clear insulated glass” “… and three types of fritted glass.” “The new Commons’ zigzag projecting glass wall is architectural” “… and acoustical.” “The new Commons is an indoor park for multiple activities” “… a band shell in the park” “… with floating wood acoustical clouds, theatrical lighting and Brazilian cherry wood flooring.” “The new Commons is a green building” “… with vegetated roofs and an energy-efficient mechanical system” “… including an outdoor terrace” “… and a great view of the courthouse.” You get the picture. And, in fact, thousands of pictures now exist, documenting the transformation that has taken place between Third and Fourth and Washington and Jackson streets in downtown Columbus over the past three years. That April evening, Risting’s presentation told the story of the transformation, introducing to his listeners the new Commons and the dozens of improvements architecturally that have been made to enrich the public space, all for the enjoyment of Bartholomew County residents and their guests.
Bartholomew County Courthouse, reflected in the windows outside the James A. Henderson Playground at The Commons. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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But the story is much more detailed than one presented in 36 slides. When discussions about what to do with The Commons first began back in 2006, no one could guess the work, the endless discussions and the agonizing over details that were still to come. Since that time, initial surveys have been conducted, thousands of public requests considered, millions of dollars budgeted, committees formed, money raised and meeting after meeting … after meeting … held in order to rebuild The Commons. And that’s just the super-abbreviated version of this tale.
Collaborative approach
The original rebuilding of The Commons was expected to last nine months. In all, the time between the final event in the old facility and the grand reopening spanned more than three-and-a-half years. There were a few
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First-Floor Blueprints
glitches, sure, but fast-forward to October 2009, when ground was finally broken and construction was officially under way. The project, a public-private partnership funded by a city bond, local foundations and private donations, took its direction from community input, which included a survey that netted more than 5,000 responses, public meetings, presentations, hearings and the expertise of dozens of companies, including the collaborative efforts of the two hired architectural firms, Koetter Kim & Associates of Boston and CSO Architects of Indianapolis. The plan: Build an architecturally distinctive urban building with a functional design. Make it sustainable. Fix the problems of the old Commons. Incorporate the requests of the public. Do it all within the budget. No biggie. To handle the tasks at hand, a 10-member Commons committee, chaired by Columbus entrepreneur Bob Stevens and
which included local heavy-hitters like David Doup, Will Miller, Sarla Kalsi and more, was formed to work with the two main architectural firms. From there, hundreds of people were brought in to get the $18 million job done. “A lot of people ask who designed it. They want to know the individual who designed it,” CSO’s Risting explains. “In this case, it was very collaborative. CSO was the executive architect. Koetter Kim worked through the design. We also hired Copley Wolff out of Boston to design the playground and the streetscape.” Beyond those design firms, Risting says, structural engineers were brought in. And then mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, plumbing experts, fire protection consultants, acoustical experts, cost estimators, theater consultants and more were hired. Dunlap & Co. arrived on the scene in late 2009 to handle the construction.
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The facility was unveiled with the mayor’s State of the City address, delivered on April 19. The playground had its opening celebration on May 14, and the official grandopening festivities for the entire building stretched across four days in early June. And people had good reason to celebrate.
Blending of old and new
The building had everything its planners had hoped. The new Commons, Will Miller wrote in an essay to commemorate the space, “is respectful of the original Commons, not only in terms of its functional intentions, but also in the preservation of the overall architectural form, reutilization of the original structure, and reinforcement of its urban planning objectives.” The original structure, for instance, was saved. “We got into the analysis of the old building and determined that the steel
Second-Floor Blueprints
support beams and the foundations were still good,” Stevens explains. “We saved and reutilized the foundation and the steel beams and the roofs … that was significant.” And it saved a significant amount of money that could be spent improving other areas of the building. “When you start to look at the form as it was before,” Risting says, “it’s still there. When you first walk into the main lobby, that space is still there, but it’s different because we raised the ceiling and we painted it white. It seems much more spacious. ‘Chaos’ (the art sculpture in the lobby) is in the same place, and yet we’ve built an exhibition hall just for it so people can observe it and see it in different ways. The playground is almost twice the size as it was before. Even the red tube — we originally really wanted to reuse it, but it was in too bad of condition, so we reinvented it. The
whole idea of The Commons is that simple: It’s new and improved.” For Sherry Stark, executive director of Heritage Fund—The Community Foundation of Bartholomew County, The Commons represents both a respect and appreciation for the city’s history and its priorities for the future. “To me, this beautiful new building embodies many of our community’s most important values,” she says. “One has only to walk through the new Commons to see that, once again, our community has demanded and achieved excellence in the design and use of space in the building. The fabulous playground shows that our children are our number one priority.” The Commons “is so much for the people of Columbus,” Risting adds. “They have their memories of it, and there will be so many more memories. When we’re walking people through it for the first time, the single thing they keep saying is ‘Wow.’”
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The performance hall can accommodate 450 guests seated, 700 theater-style and 900 standing.
The Nugent-Custer
Performance Hall Photo by Andrew Laker
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You might say that, note for note, the new Nugent-Custer Performance Hall blows away the first-floor performance space of the old Commons days. The acoustics of the former area “left a lot to be desired,” says chairman of The Commons Committee, Bob Stevens. “I’m understating that.” When planners imagined a new multipurpose area in The Commons for music, drama and special events, they wanted a beautiful space with topnotch acoustics and lots of event flexibility. With the help of several experts, that’s what the NugentCuster Performance Hall delivers. Acoustical consultant Roger Noppe of Purcell + Noppe + Assoc. of California weighed in, as did theater planning experts from Schuler
Shook of Chicago. Where they left off, Commons architects and committee planners took over. The result: an 8,000-square-foot upperlevel space that can accommodate 450 seated (at round tables), 700 theater-style and 900 standing. The performance hall offers a complete theatrical stage, lighting and sound, Brazilian cherry wood floors and incredible downtown views. Mission accomplished. Much went into the acoustics of the space, which now houses a backstage wall composed of specialty acoustic reflectors, floating wood acoustic clouds above, a wood acoustical sidewall and special acoustical insulation in the ceiling and underneath the floors. The zigzag curtain wall along the east
side also offers enhanced sound. Other performance enhancements, according to Ed Curtin, executive director of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, include the stage curtains, the catwalks, the dressing rooms and the ability to add 16 feet of additional stage to fit a full orchestra. The best part, however, might be the lack of distractions. Performers in the previous area used to complain about the noise from other spots around the building when they took to the stage. Now the playground and the food court can be closed off from the performance space without being shut down. The floors are worth noting, too. Stevens can be thanked for finding the Jatoba/Brazilian cherry
wood. “The original design concept was to have a hard maple like a basketball court,” he says, “but women can’t wear high heels, and black-soled shoes would leave marks on a basketball court. My wife and I had been through Denmark Airport and saw they had all wooden floors. I contacted the manager, and he explained the (Brazilian cherry) wood they’ve used for 40 years. It could handle all those people. It’s a wood that is beautiful … and functional.” Overall, The Commons performance area is “night and day different from the old one,” says Curtin. “It really is designed so we can have any kind of event in that space and have it perform pretty well. We’ve tried to think of everything, to make it absolutely user-friendly.” The Commons | Summer 2011
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The Miller-Tangeman
Lobby
Beyond serving as an expanded two-story exhibition area for Jean Tinguely’s kinetic sculpture, “Chaos I,” the Miller-Tangeman Lobby in The Commons also offers yet another gathering space for small events and receptions. With a small stage area, the lobby can fit approximately 30 or 40 people for performances, parties and cocktail receptions.
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Photos by Andrew Laker
Xenia Miller
Conference Room The Commons offers plenty of fun, yes, but there are also several places to do business. Commons visitors can use any of the available seating on the second-floor mezzanine to meet with friends and work on laptops (the entire facility is equipped with free Wi-Fi). The Xenia Miller Conference Room on the second floor also offers not-for-profit groups a free place to meet, with seating available for up to 20 people. The room has dry-erase boards and easels, and The Commons can provide a projector and screen for use.
Photo by Andrew Laker
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The James A. Henderson
Playground
The playground at The Commons had been a staple of the Columbus community for more than 30 years. “Parents would take their kids there on cold or rainy days,” says Bob Stevens, chairman for The Commons committee. “In the past, it got more usage than all the city parks combined.” Planners had a tall order on their hands. Create something both parents and their kids would absolutely love. Almost twice the size of the original, the rebuilt playground boasts 5,000 square feet of space that was designed by Copley Wolff Design Group, Landscape Architects and Planners of Boston. The finished product, a custom-designed indoor playground, offers children (and adults, alike) plenty of climbers, mazes, tunnels and slides to explore — per the requests of kids involved in early interactive design workshops. The playground was the signature piece of the previous facility, and planners needed to create a space that further wowed guests. “We were really faced with a challenge,” Ed Curtin, executive director of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission, says. “We wanted a playground that really excited the kids.” The space also needed to meet the needs of parents, who wanted “good visibility,” explains Stevens. “They wanted to have food court seating, so they could feed some kids and watch over the others.” Specially designed for three age groups (toddlers, ages 2 to 5 and ages 6 and older), the playground “is going to be incredibly special for a lot of people,” says Curtin. “A lot of people had memories from before. I don’t think it’ll matter what age people are, they’re going to want to get out on the playground.” Even Curtin has had his share of fun in the new space. “Absolutely,” he says. “I’ve got to inspect it; that’s the rough part of my job.”
Opposite page: Jim Henderson descends the Luckey Climber after scaling to the top at the May 14 grand opening of the playground, named in his honor. Photos by Andrew Laker.
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The
Luckey Climber
Flying platforms, as it turns out, amount to loads of fun. The feature piece inside the James A. Henderson Playground is the Luckey Climber, an approximately 30-foot interactive sculpture that was specially commissioned for The Commons. Designed by Connecticut artist/architect Tom Luckey and installed by his son, Spencer Luckey, the piece offers children the opportunity to climb 50 4-by-8-foot custom-built plywood platforms, which are supported by five steel columns and six miles of coated stainless steel aircraft cable safety netting. The platform bottoms are stained maple with Columbus’ dancing C’s painted on them in
vibrant primary colors. The tops of the platforms carry a resilient rubber surface upon which kids can climb. Though it’s a structure created more for function (and fun) than form, the Luckey Climber is still looked on by many in the community as a work of art. In a commemorative essay he wrote about The Commons, Will Miller says it best: “Elegantly set in the crystalline playground pavilion, the Luckey Climber is simultaneously our community’s latest piece of great public art and a twentyfirst-century jungle gym that no doubt will quickly earn the new playground the name of ‘Chaos 2’ once again.”
Photos by Andrew Laker
The Luckey Climber has 50 4-by-8 foot plywood platforms for climbing.
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Eli Davis, 7, enters the Luckey Climber. The Commons | Summer 2011
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Sustainability … and the Green Roof
Photos by Alton Strupp
The green roof consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of plants.
When considering the construction of the new building, community leaders were interested in ecology and the nationally recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program. They wanted to create a sustainable design for the building. Which, in the end, they did. The green roof consists of approximately 10,000 square feet of plants growing atop the facility. These beds of vegetative cover “are grown to survive in our particular climate and provide the oxygenenriching benefit of trees and plants,” Commons Committee Chairman Bob Stevens explains. The plants also help to insulate the building, which cuts down on operating costs. And where there are no plants? A white heat-reflective roof remains. “By doing the sustainable design, we paid more attention to the mechanical efficiency, all of the glass was selected based on this and recycled materials were selected,” CSO lead architect Steven Risting says. Energy-efficient mechanical and lighting systems were installed. Advancements in glass technology allow the building to be fully transparent day and night without sacrificing energy efficiency, and high-performance glazing and fritted solar shading were used on much of the building’s glass surfaces. But Risting claims he’s still most excited about the green roof. Though he says the roof isn’t visible from most areas of the building, “the kids will discover it when they climb to the top of the Luckey Climber.”
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The Outdoor
Terrace
Photo by Andrew Laker
On the second floor overlooking Third Street, guests can retreat to an outdoor terrace to gather for cocktail receptions or small events. The terrace, an added bonus of the new Commons, is a flexible space that offers beautiful views of downtown Columbus and Bartholomew County Courthouse. A permanent seating wall wraps most of the space, and the area can accommodate tents or additional tables and chairs, depending on the need. The terrace also boasts trees, and it shows off a small portion of the facility’s green roof, the vegetative covering that helps to insulate the building.
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The Retail Spaces
BY KELSEY DECLUE
The retail section in The Commons is composed of six spaces, called bays, which span the corner of the building along Fourth and Washington streets. Adjacent to the Luckey Climber playground are three additional retail spaces, which will be used as a food court. Washington and Fourth street spaces: Scotty’s Brewhouse (bays three through six, approximately 5,500 square feet)—An Indiana franchise started in 1996 by owner Scott Wise, Scotty’s is a family restaurant and bar specializing in burgers and sandwiches, draft beer and specialty cocktails. The restaurant will be open to the Miller-Tangeman lobby and will have outdoor seating on Washington Street. www.scottysbrewhouse.com Hubbard and Cravens will lease with Scotty’s to operate a coffee bar housed on the Chaos Lobby end of the restaurant’s space. The Indianapolis-based coffee shop will offer grab-and-go coffee and pastry items. www.hubbardandcravens.com Puccini’s Smiling Teeth (bays one and two, approximately 2,500 square feet) — The Indiana-based Italian restaurant opened in 1991 in Indianapolis and now has nine locations in the state, as well as four Kentucky locations. The family-friendly establishment specializes in pizza and traditional Italian pasta dishes, as well as gluten-free and low-carb menu items and beer and wine. Puccini’s will have entrances off Fourth and Washington streets, as well as outdoor seating. www.puccinissmilingteeth.com Food court retail: Subway (spaces one and two)—An icon of the playground food court space in the former Commons, Subway will return with playground side and enclosed seating. Space three is in negotiations.
“We wanted the retail space to be all restaurants because we’re working on designing the area of Fourth and Washington to be the ‘arts and entertainment’ district of Columbus. So we wanted places that would be lively and open in the evenings to bring people downtown. I think the more restaurants the better. Because then we become a destination for dining.” – Sharon Renfro
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Photo by Alton Strupp The Commons | Summer 2011
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Sketches, notes and blueprints of “Chaos” found while sorting through the legacy of the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller Foundation. Photos by Joe Harpring. “Chaos” photo by Andrew Laker.
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Bring on the Noise:
‘Chaos’ remains a vital centerpiece of The Commons By Doug Showalter The old Commons is gone, replaced by a new and improved version. But one very important piece of the old remains in the new. “Chaos I,” the 30-foot sculpture that has been the centerpiece of The Commons since 1975, again anchors the facility.
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J. Irwin and Xenia Miller and Clementine Tangeman paid $130,000 for the sculpture as a gift to Columbus. The 7-ton mechanical hodge-podge was designed and built by Swiss kinetic artist Jean Tinguely, who assembled the whimsical metal sculpture at the old Columbus city pump house. Many of its metal pieces were procured from The Kroot Corp. on State Street. Tinguely, who died in 1991, was 47 when he created “Chaos I” and had already built about 400 kinetic sculptures by then. He was recommended for the job by Cesar Pelli, the world-renowned architect who designed the original Commons. Today, “Chaos I” is considered by the art world to be the most important Tinguely work in the United States. Many in Columbus consider it an old friend. Tinguely’s masterpiece is extremely popular with residents and visitors alike. When plans for the new Commons were being formulated, the public made it very clear that “Chaos I” should stay just where it was. And so it has. For protection it was sealed inside a large, green climate-controlled box during construction of the new facility. But now it’s back, better than ever. In fact, in the new facility, “Chaos I” is even more of a centerpiece than it was in the original Commons. The sculpture greets visitors as they enter via the main doors. “Before,
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it was out in the middle of this big room,” says David Doup, president of Columbus’ Taylor Bros. Construction, which the Columbus Redevelopment Commission hired to lead the restoration work on “Chaos I.” “But now, you can still walk around the little moat, but when you go to the second floor you’re going to get an all-new vista because you’ve never been able to be that close before. You just get a whole new perspective on it.” While “Chaos I” appears to be the same as it always was, the 36-year-old moving marvel has received a facelift. Much of the work is being done by conservator Richard McCoy in collaboration with Taylor Bros. and a group of local students at Purdue College of Technology in Columbus. McCoy, who has a day job at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, took on the “Chaos I” project on his own time. He said the community should be proud of the effort made to keep Tinguely’s sculpture the centerpiece of the new Commons. “A lot of cities would have disassembled it or put it in storage,” he says. “It’s an extraordinary act of preservation, and I’m really proud to be a part of it.” Spurred by a $100,000 grant from Irwin Management Inc., the business arm of the family that made the original donation to the city in 1974, officials are building a detailed history of “Chaos I” along with an even more
detailed set of instructions for its assembly and subassembly. Staying true to the artist’s original intent was challenging, as contractors and subcontractors performed a structural analysis, tested the 12 motors that perform 13 motions and refurbished the sculpture. Tinguely, who specialized in kinetic creations, once said, “Life is movement. Everything transforms itself, everything modifies itself ceaselessly, and to try to stop it … seems a mockery of the intensity of life.” “Chaos I,” he added, “cycles through a series of motions to simulate a day in a life, beginning slowly at first, adding movements and then winding down again.” McCoy’s primary role has been to assemble a definitive set of documentation for the sculpture. “In order to know how to take care of an art work, we need to understand its social, artistic and historic context,” he says. “We have to have a good plan to know how to restore it. It’s been there about 30 years, and it doesn’t have that well established. For a major work like that, it was surprising not to find that published already.” McCoy combed through historical files at Bartholomew County Public Library, the Columbus Architectural Archives and Irwin Management. From this research he has assembled the first definitive documentation for the sculpture.
From the beginning, those working to restore and refurbish “Chaos I” focused on more than the here and now. They wanted to preserve Jean Tinguely’s masterpiece for future generations. A group of students from Purdue College of Technology in Columbus were in on this effort. Working under Lucian Silvian, visiting assistant professor of engineering, the students began creating 3-D computer diagrams of each of the sculpture’s movements and writing instructions for assembly and sub-assembly, important elements in the overall project. The project was the first undertaken locally through Purdue University’s Engineering Projects in Community Service, or EPICS, program. Silvian says projects such as working on “Chaos I” allow students to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting. “We take projects from the community, and we work with our students,” he explains. “The community benefits and also our students.” The project involves gathering information on all the sculpture’s parts. “Right now we’re trying to get all the information into a database so if something breaks, we’ll know how to fix it,” he adds.
The work has been especially meaningful for Sylvian’s students. “There are some students who told me that as children their parents took them to see this sculpture, and they are so excited to work on it,” he says. That’s music to the ears of David Doup, president of Taylor Bros. Construction, the firm that did the refurbishing work on “Chaos I.” “It’s been exciting to watch them learn about it because these are young people who weren’t even born when ‘Chaos’ was created,” Doup says. “It’s exciting to see this younger generation come along and embrace this and recognize its uniqueness.” And while Doup hopes the students’ work lays the foundation for the future care and maintenance of “Chaos I,” Silvian also hopes it is only the first of many EPICS projects in Columbus. He’s already talking with local people about other possible projects. “I think this thing is going to mushroom, and my intention is to expand it to the whole learning center, not just Purdue. I’m talking with some people from the liberal arts. Don’t forget that engineering is an art.” Jean Tinguely circa 1975.
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The Commons | Summer 2011
Doup said restoration work included testing the sculpture for structural integrity, rebuilding some of the motors and replacing cables. “Chaos I” is back to working order now, minus some of the more troublesome or unsafe elements that revealed themselves over the years. For example, a motor at the sculpture’s base used to rotate the entire sculpture 70 degrees. That motor was deactivated in 1985 because of safety concerns. Another upgrade involved installing a modern electronic control panel that is simpler and more compact than the large and cumbersome machinery it replaced. “The electronics were 40-year-old technology,” Doup says. “They were pretty complicated. They had some pushpins that controlled the timing. Years ago it was fantastic; it was great. But we can bring it into the 21st century.” Current and future operators will have the capability to program multiple sequences to keep the sculpture’s movements fresh and interesting. Doup says the project has been fascinating. “Even though as a citizen of the community you’ve seen it for years, you really don’t know just how interesting and unique it is until you start inspecting it and studying it.” The biggest challenge, he says, was to remain true to Tinguely’s original concepts. “If we needed to change something or do a
JANE EYRE
little tweaking here or there, we tried to do it in a manner that preserves his creativity and imagination. When you start to look at it, it’s just incredible what he’s done.” McCoy agrees. “You can look at it in a certain way and get lost in it and say, ‘What’s going on? It’s just a bunch of stuff.’ But when you start to pay attention to it and learn more about it, you realize it’s actually a very welldesigned machine,” he says. “Tinguely was Swiss and ‘Chaos’ isn’t too far removed from being a really well-built clock.” Those working on the sculpture have even remained true to one happy “accident.” During construction, when a feature of the moving sculpture failed to work, Tinguely sent an assistant to address the problem. While he was atop the sculpture, his boot became lodged inside the parts. Since the machine was working, Tinguely instructed the worker to step out of the boot and leave it in place. The boot is still there. And, McCoy says, people should remember that “Chaos I” is, indeed, a work of art, not just a machine. “Tinguely was pushing the bounds of what these kinds of works of art can be,” he says. “It’s certainly a museumquality piece. It’s bigger than any other work by that sculptor in the United States. It’s more complicated than any work by that sculptor in the United States.”
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By Doug Showalter
M
ost Columbus residents have long seen the colorful banners along Washington Street in downtown Columbus where Dancing C’s regularly flap in the breeze. The new-and-improved Commons also boasts a few of the branded city logos—or close variations of the logo—of its own. When you visit The Commons, be sure to look for these: • In the playground area, the logos, painted in the same primary colors as the street banners, adorn the bottom of each suspended panel in the floor-to-ceiling Luckey Climber installation.
C-WORLD
• What appear from a distance to be small dots on the windows on the south end of the building are, in fact, also tiny C’s. Beyond adding an aesthetic touch to the windows, the C’s, which are built into the layers of glass, serve a practical purpose, says Ed Curtin, executive director of Columbus Redevelopment Commission. “They help deflect a lot of the heat and light, which … helps us manage the energy cost in the building,” he explains. This ceramic fritting was used in several areas around the structure, “on the sides of the building that are exposed to heavy amounts of sunlight,” says Bob Stevens, chairman of The Commons committee, as well as in some of the building’s skylights. Curtain stripes of small dots, for example, also fill out the zigzag walls adjacent to the performance hall to help insulate the glass. • Outside, at the corner of Washington and Fourth streets, two-wheeled guests can park their rides at one of the C-shaped bicycle racks. And while it doesn’t feature the official Dancing C’s logo, the red “Double C” sculpture, designed by French sculptor Bernar Venet, was returned to its spot on Washington Street outside the playground entrance.
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Colorful signature C-style bike racks. Opposite page: Tiny C’s mark the windows of The Commons playground area to provide sun glare shielding. Photos by Alton Strupp The Commons | Summer 2011
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Photo by Andrew Laker The Commons | Summer 2011
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LEFT:
Pedestrians walk past the new Commons. Photos by Alton Strupp.
Above:
The steeple of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, as seen from inside The Commons. Photo by Andrew Laker. The Commons | Summer 2011
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Above: Bartholomew County Courthouse as framed
and reflected through the hard lines and windows of The Commons.
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RIGHT:
Downtown bustles with traffic on Washington Street outside The Commons. Photos by Alton Strupp.
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A crowd of people gathered at Fourth and Washington streets to watch arrivals at the 2011 prom. Photo by Andrew Laker. The Commons | Summer 2011
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Catering Kitchen: Catering pros told The Commons committee that they preferred cooking in their own kitchens. All they needed at The Commons was a place to stage and warm food. The location on the second floor near the performance hall allows for this. Additionally, delivery is made from an industrial-sized elevator (at right) near the west loading dock. Photo by Andrew Laker.
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Dressing Rooms: Decision-makers talked with performing artists in the community before designing this area, so that it would be better-suited to attract big name entertainers. Photo by Andrew Laker.
Photo by Alton Strupp.
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Offices: The location was chosen for the offices so that the new Commons staff and the Columbus Area Arts Council could be located in the same space for coordinating events. Photo by Alton Strupp.
Sound: An acoustical engineering firm worked with architects and The Commons committee on developing a high-performance sound system for musical events. Curved wooden platforms hang above the stage to help ricochet sound during performances. Photo by Andrew Laker.
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Back Stage Ramp: Steve Risting of CSO Architects worked on several designs, but this one met the multiple goals of having accessibility for the disabled as well as an easy access for both performers and equipment. Photo by Andrew Laker.
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Downtown Columbus looking to the southeast over Hotel Indigo, Sears, Cummins, The Commons, parking garages and City Hall. Photo by Joe Harpring.
BY Kelsey DeClue
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I
t’s a gathering place. An entertainment venue. A structure where milestones are celebrated and memories are made. The Commons is the community’s living room. And it’s something else.
To Columbus and its surrounding areas, The Commons serves as an opportunity — to not only represent itself well, but to grow. At least that’s how community leaders and those responsible for the project see it, and that’s how they hope the public views it as well.
A few years ago the fate of the original Commons, a creation by famed architect Cesar Pelli, was at a crossroads. “The Commons was the major issue identified in the strategic development plan for the city,” explains Tom Vujovich, president of the board of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission. The structure had been losing retail dollars and was in need of serious renovations. Redevelopment leaders hired consulting company the Buxton Group to assess the city and identify areas for potential growth. “We wanted to identify the key retail areas in Columbus to help us understand what our demographic information really was, so that when the time was appropriate, we’d be able to pull specific information,” says Ed Curtin, executive director of Columbus Redevelopment Commission.
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Aristocrat pear trees in full bloom along Washington Street. Photo by Alton Strupp. The Commons | Summer 2011
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The study identified three locations— Third and Washington streets, National and Taylor roads and the Columbus exit at Indiana 46 and Interstate 65—to be hotbeds for retail opportunity. The area at Third and Washington streets, however, namely The Commons, needed some tweaking. In fact, The Commons was identified as a “significant problem in future development,” Vujovich says. “So that area got moved to the front burner. (The) initial analysis was that The Commons, the way it was, wasn’t contributing to growth; in fact it was detracting from it. The trend in retail is going away from indoor malls, and the lack of retail in the building was creating the impression of a dying space.” Those findings, combined with the need for structural renovations, led Columbus’ development groups to set their sights on creating a new building. By doing so, they changed the face of downtown … and created a renewed appeal for the area. “I can tell you, we didn’t have a lot of interest from folks being in The Commons the way it stood,” Curtin says. “We’ve had a significant number of businesses express interest in being in the new Commons.” So The Commons starts a new chapter and a redefined and sharpened role within the community. Although one may not be able to construct a family-tree diagram with dotted lines leading from the new Commons to other new business, growth in the community could be linked to The Commons and what it represents. “I think had the city not committed to rebuilding, we wouldn’t see a lot of the things happening today,” Curtin says. “I really think that being willing to rebuild The Commons has acted as a catalyst, even on a smaller scale.” Curtin named new business Imagination Station as an example of one of those small-scale effects. The toy store, founded in Franklin, opened its second location in late 2010 directly across from The Commons at 315 Washington St. “With that particular interest, someone called, I went up and down Washington Street, and we only had three empty storefronts,” he says. Downtown spots have been steadily filling up. Renovated and reopened in 2009, Columbus historic staple Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum has been named as another example of a project that might not have come to fruition without the probability of the new Commons. Retail options within The Commons continue to improve as well. At press time, two new businesses — Scotty’s Brewhouse and Hubbard and Cravens Coffee and Tea Co. — were scheduled to open in The ComPAGE 88
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Debra Slone drinks a Green River float at Zaharakos. The Republic file photo. The Commons | Summer 2011
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Viktor Winblad von Walter and his wife, Susannah, walk with their infant, Alval, through the columns of Cummins Corporate Office Building. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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mons in late summer. Growth in the corporate sector, such as the expansions of Cummins Inc. and First Financial Bank, also have been attributed to The Commons. “Cummins has locations all over, but they chose to locate and grow in Columbus because we are a city that shows it’s willing to invest in its economy and its future,” Vujovich says. “They want to be able to show potential employees the kind of life they can have outside of work.” And with jobs come residents and the need for housing — thus Casa Verde condominiums on Jackson Street and the impending Cole apartments surrounding the parking garage on Second and Jackson streets. And let’s not forget infrastructure. “Parking has long been an issue downtown,” Vujovich says. “In fact it’s been such an issue that it also served as a deterrent for growth, so the parking
garage (on Fourth and Jackson streets) is a perfect example of things we had to have in place to make the downtown feasible for residents and attractive to potential tenants.” The outdoor sports complex planned for Water Street and Lafayette Avenue further completes the plan for strategic development — boosting tourism and downtown foot traffic. Overall, local leaders have hopes that The Commons adds to the city’s appeal for both residents and their guests. “We’ve always done really well with empty-nesters who want to come for the architecture and design,” says Cindy Frey, associate director of Columbus Visitors Center. “But families didn’t have quite as many options, so this seals the deal for us. Not only can they come downtown, go to kidscommons, go to wonderful Zaharakos and have that one-of-akind experience, but they can also come here (to The Commons) and have a lot of fun.”
Midday light creates a series of shadows in the arcade of First Financial Bank. Cummins Inc. purchased the 83,000-square-foot facility in 2011. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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Mayor’s State of the City Address Tuesday, April 19, 2011
1. Mayor Fred Armstrong waves to the crowd after delivering his final State of the City address. It was The Commons first public event. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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2. Attendees enter the Miller-Tangeman Lobby and ride the escalator to the second-floor performance area, where the mayor gave his speech. Photo by Alton Strupp. 3. Guests exit down The Commons stairs. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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4. & 5. Armstrong delivered his 16th address to a full house. Top photo by Joe Harpring. Bottom photo by Alton Strupp.
A Celebration of UnCommon Friends Tuesday, April 26, 2011
1. Guests line the balconies at The Commons donor wall unveiling. Photo by Alton Strupp. 2. Tom and Tina Vujovich applaud alongside other attendees. Photo by Andrew Laker.
5. 3. Mary Fields and Elliott Eaton deliver an essay titled “What The Commons Means to Us.� Photo by Andrew Laker.
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4. Guests socialize prior to the unveiling. 5. Mayor Fred Armstrong speaks to the crowd. Photos by Alton Strupp.
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Columbus North & East High School Prom Saturday, May 7, 2011
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1. A limo on Washington Street drops off attendees. Photo by Andrew Laker. 2. Students walk into the new Commons for the 2011 prom, which returned to the facility for the first time since 2007.
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3. Students dance in the light effects from the stage. Photo by Alton Strupp.
9. 4. Students wait to enter. Photo by Andrew Laker. 5. Elissa Boling and Samuel Wylie show their moves on the dance floor. Photo by Andrew Laker. 6. Hunter Sims and Alex Reid were the Columbus North 2011 prom king and queen. The Republic file photo. 7. Amanda Melton and Tim Galligar were the Columbus East 2011 prom queen and king. The Republic file photo. 8. The Commons was packed with dancing teens. Photo by Andrew Laker. 9. Arms wave in front of two tuxedo displays on the wall. The prom’s theme was “A Black Tie Affair.” Photo by Andrew Laker. 10. Students wave glow sticks as they dance. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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Playground Dedication & Opening Saturday, May 14, 2011
1. Jim Henderson stands at the entrance of the new Commons playground, named in his honor. 2. Amelia Brand, 5, spins herself dizzy.
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3. Surrounded by their families, Mayor Fred Armstrong, left, and Jim Henderson lead the ribbon-cutting. 4. Children explore the maze-like Luckey Climber playscape for the first time. 5. Parker Saddler, 14, plays with the water tornado maker on the playground. Photos by Andrew Laker.
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5.
Visit your favorite toy store in Downtown Columbus across the street. 315 Washington St | Columbus | 812-373-9636
The Commons | Summer 2011
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JCB Neighborfest Thursday, June 2, 2011
1. Derek Fetter, 5, left, and brother Dylan, 4, play during the event. 2. Some JCB Neighborfest guests opted to watch the on-stage entertainment from the comfort of the airconditioned Commons lobby. At the same time last year, the area was a construction zone.
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5. 3. Guests dance in the street during Jennie DeVoe’s performance. 4. Nine-year-old Andrew Roese shows off his fire-breathing dragon balloon hat fashioned by Twistin’ Frank the Fakir. 5. Indianapolis pop-rock singer Jennie DeVoe entertained as the headliner.
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6. Jim Ryser performs in front of the large Washington Street crowd. Photos by Andrew Laker.
Mark Nizer & Melchior Marionettes Friday, June 3, 2011
1. Peggy Melchior leads a puppet through the crowd. Photo by Andrew Laker. 2. Joshua Franco, 2, applauds the Marionettes. Photo by Andrew Laker. 3. Mark Nizer juggles two machetes and an apple while unicycling. Nizer managed to eat the apple while performing the trick. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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4. A close-up of one of the Marionettes. Photo by Andrew Laker. 5. Luke Dagley, 3, tries on a pair of 3-D glasses given out before Nizer performed. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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6. Arts Council Director Rebekah Walsh welcomes guests to Friday’s events. Photo by Andrew Laker. 7. Families clap during Peggy Mechiors’ comedy cabaret performance. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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Grand Opening Events Saturday, June 4, 2011
1. Officially opening The Commons to the public, a group that included David Doup, left, Ed Curtin, Sarla Kalsi, Will Miller, Tracy Souza, Fred Armstrong, Jesse Brand, Jim Henderson, Rick Johnson and Sherry Stark cut the ribbon outside the main entrance. Photo by Andrew Laker. 2. Maria Fischer, 12, hits the switch to activate “Chaos I” during a ceremony around the kinetic statue. Photo by Alton Strupp.
4. 3. People filled the lobby of the building to watch “Chaos I” be activated. Photo by Alton Strupp. 4. Stilt walker and juggler Tyler Cheek performs. Photo by Andrew Laker. 5. Vyom Desai, 3, is framed through rings in large bubble makers as he and other children play near a bubble pool. Photo by Alton Strupp. 6. Members of a Chinese dance group perform. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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6.
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8. 7. Mayor Fred Armstrong waves aboard a fire truck at the start of the parade, kicking off the festivities. Photo by Andrew Laker. 8. Brendan Sapp gets his hand painted at Imagination Station. Photo by Carla Clark.
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9. Zoe Dougherty, 8, and Jenna Hashagen, 11, roll out paint with a roller set on a large sheet of paper. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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4. 1. (From left) Sierra club members Rovene Quigley, Max Lemley and Priscilla Scalf. Photo by Tommy Walker. 2. (From left) Margy Nierman,Charlie Farber, Jayne Farber and Tim Nierman. Photo by Tommy Walker. 3. Mark and Debbie Pratt dance. Photo by Tommy Walker. 4. The shrimp cocktail “shots,” served by Lemley’s Catering, was a popular appetizer at the event. Photo by Tommy Walker. 5. LuAnn Welmer, left, and Brenda Sullivan. Photo by Tommy Walker.
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5.
Rock The Commons Celebration Party Saturday, June 4, 2011
6. 6. Guests enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres from downtown restaurants as live music plays in the performance hall. Photo by Alton Strupp.
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7. Samantha Aulick, left, and Alexa Lemley pose near a fruit tree from Lemley’s Catering. Photo by Tommy Walker.
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9. 8. Tony Gambaiani dances on stage with the band. Photo by Tommy Walker.
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9. Celebration Planning Committee (from left) Diane Doup, Katia Hatter, Suzanne Wells, Tony Gambaiani, Chuck Wells, Bob Stevens, Lisa Westenberger, Kevina and Hutch Schumaker send their thanks to Alice Curry, who chaired the committee, but was unable to make the event. Photo by Tommy Walker. 10. Mike Robbins, Diane Robbins, Tammy Freeland, Rich Freeland, Varsi Weeter and Jim Weeter. Photo by Tommy Walker.
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Toxic Audio Performance Sunday, June 5, 2011
1. Toxic Audio member Jeremy James pumps up the crowd. 2. Paul Sperrazza serenades Jessica Richardson, 18.
3. (From left) Jeremy James, Paul Sperrazza, Michelle Knight and Shalisa James perform during the final act of the festive weekend. 4. Shalisa James entertains the crowd. 5. Toxic Audio sound man John Valines makes adjustments. The group dedicated an entire song to his behindthe-scenes contributions.
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4.
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5.
3989 S. 525 E. Columbus, IN 47203 812-377-5849
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7. 6. Paul Sperrazza performs a Michael Jackson “Thriller�-themed vocal interpretation. 7. Maggie Buffo, left, and Mary Schultz, both 10, applaud. Photos by Alton Strupp.
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Supporting the Community
Since 1872. 333 2nd Street | Columbus, Ind. | 812. 372. 7811 |