Columbus Fieldhouse - Now open!

After months of anticipation, the wait is finally over. With the Columbus Fieldhouse officially open to the public, hospital leaders and community members alike agree that there is truly something for everyone.

Earlier this month, the Columbus Fieldhouse opened its doors and welcomed the public inside to tour the new facility. Scott Messersmith, vice president of human resources and operations for the hospital, said he could feel the excitement from people and noticed several open mouths when they walked through the main doors for the first time.

“People may not realize this, but the fieldhouse is bigger than our entire hospital facility,” Messersmith said. “The combined footprint for the Columbus Wellness Center and Columbus Fieldhouse exceeds the size of the hospital’s main campus.”

Rob Marshall, director of the Columbus Fieldhouse, said now that the facility is open, he hopes it’s filled to the brim with people of all ages, and that there are enough programs and activities for everyone.

“We’re excited to host special events that people may not have thought of being in an athletic environment,” Marshall said. “Now is our time to be creative and bring in people who might not have previously considered visiting the facility, and show them we’re more than a typical athletic environment.”

It’s not a secret that it takes a village to complete a project of this size, and hospital leaders are grateful for the community’s outpouring of support. When community members enter the facility, they will see the donor wall of community contributors and the pendant flags hung around the gym’s perimeter. In addition to those recognitions, there is a steel beam enclosed with glass and decorated with signatures of hundreds of community members who celebrated the facility's groundbreaking. This piece of art hangs prominently over the facility’s café entrance. It serves as a reminder that community is at the heart of the fieldhouse.

“The most exciting part of the project was building a facility with the true purpose of serving the community,” Marshall said. “There are other towns that have a fieldhouse complex, but to have a facility of this size and diversity, no other town has that — especially a community of 20,000 people.”

Through its partnership with the Columbus Family YMCA, the Columbus Fieldhouse will mirror the hours of operation set forth by the YMCA. Community members have full access to the fieldhouse through their “Y” membership. The YMCA will also have day passes available for individuals interested in accessing the facility for a single-day use. There is information on the facility’s rental options on the hospital’s website.

“I highly encourage everyone to visit the facility — even if they aren’t interested in athletics,” Messersmith said. “Come see, smell and feel the excitement of the fieldhouse, and discover that there truly is something for everyone.”

To learn more about the Columbus Fieldhouse, visit columbushosp.org.