Destination Architecture : : Columbus Explored
The Virginia Center for Architecture is pleased to offer an architectural pilgrimage to Columbus,
Indiana. Called the “epicenter for brilliant innovation in architecture,” Columbus boasts more
than 70 significant buildings and public artworks designed by a veritable “who’s who” of architectural superstars.
Although home to less than 40,000, Columbus is ranked 6th in the nation for architectural innovation and design right
along with the larger cities of Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Beyond experiencing the
treasures of Columbus, we’ll tour the architectural gems of Indianapolis and Cincinnati too — all guided by expert Tony
Costello, FAIA.
Thursday, October 6
Enjoy a Welcome Reception at the boutique Hotel Indigo and meet your distinguished guide Tony Costello, FAIA.
Friday, October 7
After breakfast on your own, your motor coach whisks you off to an exclusive guided tour of the J. Irwin Miller House
featuring the work of architect and designer Eero Saarinen, interior designer Alexander Girard, and landscape architect
Dan Kiley.
Following a boxed lunch, continue your tour of Columbus’ architectural icons starting with the project that really got the
ball rolling in Columbus— the1942 First Christian Church by Eilel Saarinen. You’ll also see many more notable projects
including:
First Baptist Church by Harry Weese
Irwin Union Bank by Eero Saarinen, with landscape by Dan Kiley; and the addition by Kevin Roche
Mabel McDowell School by John Carl Warnecke
North Christian Church by Eero Saarinen
Cleo Rogers Memorial Library by I. M. Pei
Columbus East High School by Romaldo Giurgola
Commons Centre and Mall by César Pelli
Otter Creek Golf Course by Harry Weese
Fire Station #4 by Robert Venturi
That evening, enjoy dinner at the award-winning Smith’s Row Food & Spirits and a lively talk by Tony Costello.
Saturday, October 8
Head off in your coach to Indianapolis for a whirlwind exploration of the highlights of the city’s urban renewal triumphs.
Tour Michael Graves’ Indianapolis Art Center and the NCAA Hall of Champions, then see and the Thompson Consumer
Electronics Building (now St. Vincent Health).
Enjoy some free time for lunch, then tour Edward Larrabee Barnes’ Christian Theological Seminary, see the College Life
Insurance Buildings by Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo, and explore the Canal and White River State Park —America’s
only urban state park. There you’ll also see the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, created by artists Eric Fulford
and Ann Reed of ROAMworks.
Return to Columbus for dinner on your own, followed by another engaging evening talk with Tony.
Sunday, October 9
Your coach takes you to Cincinnati to explore the University of Cincinnati’s campus by Hargraves and Associates.
Afterward, you’ll see buildings by Frank Gehry; Richard Meier; I.M. Pei; Peter Eisenman; Michael Graves, Gwathmey,
Siegel and Associates; Morphosis and Moore Ruble Yudell . Following lunch on your own, see Zaha Hadid’s Aronoff
Contemporary Art Museum, a nearby pavilion by César Pelli, and Daniel Liepskind’s condo building, Ascent at Roebling’s
Bridge.
After your return to Columbus and dinner on your own, Tony wraps up the tour with another spirited talk.
Monday, October 10
Depart
(The exact final schedule may change slightly to take advantage of best opportunities.)
Destination Architecture : : Columbus Explored
TOUR COST PER PERSON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: $ 895 (Single Supplement $100)
Tour includes accommodations, reception on Thursday, a boxed lunch and dinner on Friday, coach transport, and all
entrance fees. Air travel and shuttle service is not included.
Payment by check or credit card to the Virginia Center for Architecture is due at the time of reservation. Spaces are very
limited.
Cancellations will be honored by a refund, less administrative fees, only if your reserved place is taken by another
registrant. We urge you to buy travel insurance.
About Your Guide :: Anthony J. “Tony” Costello, FAIA
Irving Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Architecture, Ball State University, and principal at Costello + Associates in
Muncie, Indiana
Tony has been involved with various educational and professional activities in support of the internationally-acclaimed
design heritage of the Columbus community for two decades. He has been the presenter for a number of Columbus
Area Visitors Center’s tour guide training sessions, focusing on the buildings and their architects from the 1960’s and
‘70s. For his efforts the center awarded him the center’s Unforgettable Partner Award in 2008.
Since 2007, he has been deeply involved with helping to expand the public and professional education programs
offered by the Columbus Indiana Architectural Archives (CIAA), especially as they relate to partnerships with the
American Institute of Architects and AIA Indiana. His successful nomination brought the CIAA the 2010 Walter
Blackburn Award from AIA Indiana. In 2010, he was responsible for bringing George Miller, FAIA, Immediate PastPresident of the AIA, to Columbus to initiate the Institute’s Town Talk Program and present an AIA Presidential Citation
to the citizens of Columbus.
In 2008, he facilitated a one-day charrette sponsored by the Miller Family and Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana
that resulted in the J. Irwin and Xenia Miller Residence and Gardens being donated by the family to the Indianapolis
Museum of Art.
Tony earned a B.Arch degree with honors in 1966 from The Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. The previous year (1965),
he was awarded a B.Arch degree from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, which he attended as a
Fulbright Scholar. He graduated in 1967 from Columbia University, New York, with M.S. Arch (Urban Design) degree.
After teaching for ten years at Ball State, he completed a year of post-graduate work in planning law and public policy at
Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, while on a Lilly Endowment Open Faculty Fellowship.
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