Photo credit: Ohio Facilities Construction Commission
Location
AIA Cincinnati Conference Room
Cost
Free
Program Overview
Join AIA Cincinnati’s Urban Design Community for an internal discussion on the upcoming 2026 Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM) update and how it will shape the design of public schools—and our urban landscapes—across Ohio. We’ll review the current draft, discuss opportunities for improvement, and coordinate meaningful feedback to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) during the open public comment period.
Hosted by AIA Cincinnati’s Urban Design Community.
The Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM) is Ohio’s statewide guide for designing effective, efficient, and future-ready school facilities. Updated annually, it defines the spaces, systems, and standards used for state-funded classroom construction and has a direct impact on how schools relate to their neighborhoods and our broader urban fabric.
As the 2026 edition is being prepared, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) is inviting feedback from industry partners and stakeholders. This is a key opportunity for architects, planners, engineers, educators, and community advocates to help shape learning environments across Ohio.
This informal discussion—“Let’s Make Our Public Schools Better”—has three goals:
Review the role and structure of the OSDM and its impact on school design and surrounding communities
Identify opportunities to improve flexibility, sustainability, accessibility, and urban integration in the 2026 edition
Coordinate thoughtful, individual comments to submit to OFCC during the public comment window..
Public Comment Window
Public comments on the OSDM are open through January 23, 2026.
If you have recommendations, requests for revisions, or ideas for improvement, we encourage you to bring them to this session. After the discussion, participants are invited to submit comments directly to OFCC at: OSDM@ofcc.ohio.gov
You can review the current OSDM materials here:https://osdm.ofcc.ohio.gov/current-osdm
Thank you for adding your voice to this process and helping strengthen Ohio’s public schools and the communities they serve.
About AIA Cincinnati’s Urban Design Community
The Urban Design Community organizes tours and discussions (informal conversations and formal moderated panels) on timely projects and topics in our region. Can’t make a meeting, join the LinkedIn Group.
During this program, photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By attending this program, you consent to interview(s), photography, audio recording, video recording and its/their release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction to be used for news, web casts, promotional purposes, telecasts, advertising, inclusion on websites, social media, or any other purpose by AIA Cincinnati and its affiliates and representatives. Images, photos and/or videos may be used to promote similar AIA Cincinnati in the future, highlight the program, and exhibit the capabilities of AIA Cincinnati.