Almost 25 years ago, Kelly Kolar started
Kolar Design in a small office downtown on Walnut Street. Three moves later, the company is back downtown, now on the top floor of 807 Broadway.
After moving from its original downtown location, Kolar Design moved to Eden Park but outgrew the space shortly after the move. Five years ago, the company moved to an old Ford factory in Uptown, but that space had become too small as well.
The new 7,724-square-foot office is nearly twice the size of Kolar Design’s Uptown office, and is home to its 17 employees, with room to grow. The office is in the heart of the downtown design district, and Kolar is excited to be back. When Kolar looks out the window, she can see the city. She can see the arches of the Daniel Beard bridge and see all of the branded architecture that tells the story of Cincinnati.
“We came back to our roots and early beginnings, and we’re more connected to the fabric of the city,” Kolar says. “I see our partners on the street and wave to our clients when I see them. We picked this corner because of the collaboration and community partners around us. The Eighth Street Gateway Corridor felt right.”
Currently, Kolar Design is working on several community design projects in Dublin, Ohio, which is just outside of Columbus, and the renovation of The Ohio State University’s North Campus. They’re also working on projects at
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and
Mercy Health West. Outside of Cincinnati, Kolar Design has projects at Rutgers University, Bowling Green State University and Washington University in St. Louis. They’re also working with a TV station in Geneva to redo their set design and the look and feel of the station.
Kolar Design is also working on the relaunch of its own website. The new site will include a new platform for social media, including Facebook and Twitter interfaces. The site will also include more news and information about Kolar Design’s projects. The company will be revealing its new site with the coming of the new year.
“This move is a new chapter in Kolar Design’s journey,” says Bill Thiemann, client leader and event manger. “We want to help strengthen the design community and show our passion for the city.”
By Caitlin Koenig
Follow Caitlin on Twitter
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