COLUMBUS – The longest serving mayor in Columbus history will get a building named after him.
The eight-story Michael B. Coleman Government Center, located at 111 N. Front Street, will be part of the Columbus Government Municipal Campus and will consolidate four City departments — Building & Zoning Services, Public Service, Development and a portion of Public Utilities — as part of the Columbus Government Municipal Campus that includes City Hall, police headquarters and a renovated office building at 77 Marconi Street, Mayor Andrew Ginther announced Monday.
Coleman was Ginther’s predecessor, serving in the city’s top job from 2000 to 2016.
“Much of the city’s success today can be traced directly to the courage and leadership of Mayor Coleman,” said Ginther.
The 180,000 square foot office building realizes a long-standing vision of Coleman’s to create a “one-stop shop” concept for city government.
“I always dreamed of Columbus having a downtown campus of city government buildings,” he said. “Not only is that vision becoming a reality, but it will bear my name. I simply do not have the words to express my gratitude.”
Ginther says combining the offices will create streamlined convenience for residents requiring assistance from multiple departments on one visit. The departments will begin moving into the building in March.
The campus exterior features a central campus green with pathways connecting buildings, seating, lighting, art and a rain garden.
Just north of the Government Center at 141 N. Front St., is a new eight-story, 700-car parking garage to provide additional parking for visitors and city employees and vehicles.