Location Columbus, OH
Client Ohio Facilities Construction Commission & Ohio Expositions Commission
Services Construction Management, Program Management, Project Management
Project Value $460 Million
As owner’s representative, Hill provided program management and on-site project management and inspection services for the Ohio Expositions Commission’s (OEC) Expo 2050 project. Working with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), the OEC undertook the project to revitalize the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair site in Columbus. In addition to the Ohio State Fair, the site hosts a variety of sporting events, consumer shows, banquets, weddings, meetings, and conferences throughout the year, providing more than 1.7 million SF of roofed event space in 20 unique buildings and pavilions over 360 acres. By delivering an even better showcase for everything Ohio has to offer, the Expo 2050 project enables the Expo Center to host more and larger events and helps catalyze continued economic growth in Columbus and the surrounding region.
The scope included the demolition of five existing buildings and the design and construction of two new buildings, as well as the delivery of an iconic entry gate, an Ohio-themed handcrafted carousel, a navigational pathway, infrastructure and landscaping improvements, renovations and building additions to existing facilities, a centralized Town Square area to serve as the heart of the entire State Fair campus, additional parking, and more. The two new buildings include the 178,000 SF Ohio Agriculture Center, which features kitchens, dining space, meeting rooms, and convention space, and the 34,000 SF Ohio Showcase, a dual-purpose building featuring an exhibit about Ohio’s history and a food hall with dining and event space and incubator kitchens. The Ohio Showcase anchors the center of the entire campus near the new Town Square gathering space. The project team used building information modeling (BIM) for both vertical construction and coordination of site utilities. The Expo Center remained in use for more than 200 events per year during construction, and the project concluded on time for the 171st Ohio State Fair in 2026.
The Hill team provided complete life-cycle support for the project. In particular, Hill helped the OFCC administer the design and construction program to get the maximum value from the construction manager at-risk delivery method. This included driving a value-oriented approach to procurement, negotiating a fair guaranteed maximum price, and working with the construction manager on all pre-construction and design activities. Hill also provided input during design, making recommendations on constructability, materials, and more. During construction, Hill maintained a full-time presence on-site to conduct inspections, provide centralized document control, and track and report on all project activities. As construction drew to a close, Hill led commissioning efforts on building envelopes and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to confirm facility and system performance. Additional services included budgeting and cost tracking, estimate reconciliation, scheduling, logistics planning, and consulting on alternative insurance strategies. Hill’s efforts helped the OFCC and the OEC achieve their program goals on time and within budget.
