They are sleek, striking, modern, sculptural and impossible to miss. Nationwide Realty wanted nearly the exact opposite for its arena. Here, the context itself determines the design. The nostalgic approach can be seen in a few specific Nationwide details, such as the painted brick Blue Jackets logo in the lobby, but mainly it's evident in the overall scale and appearance of the building, which mimics nearby existing architecture. The glass breaks up long walls, especially the south wall, which is three times longer than any nearby building.
Most arenas are black boxes, really.
Here there's lots of glass and an unpredictable exterior. Architects also sought to disguise the size by keeping the building as low to the ground as possible. Nationwide Arena is the only NHL arena in the country attached to a practice rink. It's also attached to an office building and several shops and restaurants. We wanted to be on the cutting edge.