The Class of 1938 was the third donor to the Arboretum. The Alumni Class of 1938 Plaza was their gift in 1988 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Before the Schottenstein Center and Agriculture Engineering Building were built, this plaza area was the entrance to a tunnel under Lane Avenue which permitted cattle to cross from their pasture on the South side of the road to their pasture on the North side of the road. When the Ag Engineering Building was erected South of Lane Avenue and the "Schott" was later erected North of the road, the tunnel was removed and the cattle were relocated to another location.
With the Schottenstein Center in the background, this corner of Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road is a key location within the arboretum. Thousands of fans walk through this plaza on their way to the arena or to the Ohio Stadium to cheer on the Buckeyes. This plaza was originally designed to include a 100-foot circular plaza with a structure or rotunda to facilitate group gatherings, but it was never realized. It currently is screened from the surrounding corner – our arboretum gateway from main campus. Plans are underway to renovate the plaza, opening it up to be viewed from both Olentangy River Road and Lane Avenue, making it a welcoming entrance to our gardens.
Art in the Plaza
Shelter comprised of 144 brushed stainless steel pipes in a 12 x 12 grid in the circular pathway at the corner of Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road invites viewers to explore and experience the work through a specific corporeal sense of space. An important part of the installation being the surrounding environment created by the gently moving rods which cast complex, slowly evolving shadow patterns on the ground.