Northside Middle School

Harry Weese

1961

Northside Middle School is a compact three-story structure built of brick and masonry bearing walls. Repetitive brick arches define both interior and exterior windows, recalling the old Mooney Tannery once located in Columbus. In contrast to the one-story sprawl of most schools of the era, Weese’s design made a civic statement of dignity and prominence within the community.

An addition designed by Leers & Weinzapfel in 1991 employed red steel elements similar to those used in their Schmitt Elementary addition. The bold structural accents connected the school visually to major community projects of the era, reinforcing Columbus’s design continuity.