New Science Center to move into Lazarus Building

The soon-to-be-vacated 94-year-old Lazarus store in downtown Columbus will be transformed into an arts and science center. Ohio State University, Battelle Memorial Institute and the city made the announcement yesterday. The center will include a 36 (m) million-dollar, 200-thousand-square-foot institute for applied sciences operated jointly by Ohio State and Battelle, and a 50-thousand-square-foot artist community led by the university's College of the Arts. The combined center would have art studios, exhibit space and restaurants on the ground level. The science center would occupy the upper floors of the structure. Lazarus is to be out of the building by August 14th. The art and science center is part of plans to revitalize the RiverSouth District of downtown Columbus, which is primed for residential and other developments.