St. Paul's Progress

Here's the latest activity from St. Paul's in Westerville. 

Bensi Ristorante Italiano

Bensi Ristorante Italiano located at Peninsula Town Center in Hampton, Virginia, is just one of the latest designs added to Meleca Architecture's archive of restaurant projects.
  

Photographs courtesy Steiner + Associates and  Anthony Prater photography

Bensi opened this past Spring in the lifestyle center developed by Steiner + Associates.  The restaurant design theme is Italian Modern - which means modern forms with traditional detailing.

One design challenge was the main window because it let in so much light and defined the space so strongly.

So, the design centered around that window.  Meleca came up with the idea that the large window could be similar to an old train station with barrel vaulting with thermal windows.
 



The 180 seat restaurant is set within a redevelopment of an existing retail center.  The once enclosed mall is now an open-air shopping destination.  It's the only 'town center' development in the region. 

 Steiner is also the developer of Columbus' Easton Town Center.



The Catholic Foundation

The Catholic Foundation's new headquarters has been nominated for Columbus Landmarks Foundation's James B. Recchie Design Award.  Why???  It is located at the former site of the original Wendy's Restaurant,  it's redesign (by Meleca Architecture) kept the original structure intact - thus promoting historic preservation, and it adds texture to our urban landscape through its quality design. 

257 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, David B. Meleca design

The Recchie Award "recognizes projects which have made a significant impact within the past five years. It acknowledges building owners and promotes the work of design professionals who shape our built environment".  

Jennifer Damiano, president and CEO of the Catholic Foundation, was the vision behind and the tireless leader throughout this project.

Below is a photo of the original Wendy's Restaurant - opened in November 1969.  The store closed in February 2007.

Original Wendy's Restaurant, 257 E. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio

And today, now home to The Catholic Foundation.

The finalists will be selected within the next week or so.  And the winner will be announced at the Columbus Landmarks Foundation Design & Preservation Awards Program on October 14th. 

St. Paul's Site Visit

Here are some photos from our site visit today at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Westerville, Ohio.

On the Boards...

Bravo/Brio Restaurant Group is taking over the former Baja Sol site at Lennox Town Center, Columbus, Ohio.

A 200-seat Bravo Cucina Italiana is underway - designed by Meleca Architecture. 

Bravo Cucina Italiana, Lennox Town Center, Meleca Architecture design

The restaurant is slated to be open by the end of this year.  

And a Brio Tuscan Grille Restaurant is headed for Harrah's Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina.

Brio at Harrah's Casino, Cherokee, NC, Meleca Architecture design

This 500- seat restaurant is expected to open 2012.