UA Bob Crane Community Center
exterior signage
branded interior environment
wayfinding
donor recognition
Located in the heart of Upper Arlington, the Bob Crane Community Center is a modern, multi-generational hub designed to bridge recreation, social connection, and medical services from The James Cancer Supportive Care. The architectural vision draws heavily from the city’s heritage, utilizing expansive glass for natural light and salvaged materials—including the iconic blue bricks of the former Lazarus department store—to ground the center in its local history.
The experiential design strategy centers on a holistic culture of wellness, structured around three core pillars:
Connection to Health: Motivational environmental graphics that promote the physical and mental benefits of active movement.
Connection to Nature: Custom woodland murals in the children’s areas and aquatic-inspired graphics in the pool that create immersive environmental ecosystems.
Connection to Community: A multi-layered donor recognition system honoring the local residents and major contributors who made the center possible. In the main gym, gold accents serve as a subtle tribute to the “Golden Bears” legacy.
The final result is a cohesive, five-story environmental system that balances a high-end, minimalist aesthetic with an approachable community connection.
NOTE: Designed for and owned by MSA Design. In partnership with Perkins & Will (Chicago).
