The Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress is nearly done with the transformation of a bland, cubicle-filled office space in the Doug Otto Center into a spacious, welcoming Hub where local residents can find help to recover from drug addiction.
In just over six months, a combined group of Mission Columbus volunteers, contractors, suppliers and others have transformed the 2,000-square foot space into a homelike respite space where those needing help won’t be intimidated by their surroundings.
The new Hub is located in the former United Way of Bartholomew County office space in the Doug Otto Center at 1531 13th St., space that became available when United Way moved across the street to a renovated fire station. The new Hub, which is scheduled to formally open in September, will be a physical location where people seeking addiction treatment will find referrals and assistance for recovery.
The value of the donated materials and work done in the design, deconstruction and construction of the ASAP Hub is estimated at $200,000, including the value of more than 185 volunteers donating over 1,560 hours and toward the project, said Matthew Neville, ASAP operations and communications manager.
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“It’s perfect,” said Nathan Walsh, the Hub’s director who continues to work on the finishing touches to complete the space. “This all came from a lot of collaboration. Brittain Brewer (community outreach coordinator for the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program) had his fingers all over this project. What we most wanted to do was use this space effectively and make it friendly and inviting.”
The Hub and its transformation will be part of a presentation Monday at The Commons, 300 Washington St., when ASAP gives a progress report to the community. The event is at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m. for Prevention and Recovery System partner exhibits, along with a Drug Take Back event).
Walsh also credited Mission Columbus, and its leader Steve Ferdon, contractor Darren Buffo for construction management help, the numerous businesses who provided labor and materials either free or at cost, and the volunteers who stepped up to do much of the work, including dismantling of an old Arvin safe that was formerly in the middle of the ASAP’s new community gathering room.
“This has probably been the most rewarding project I have ever worked on,” said Walsh, who donned a hard hat and gloves to work on the project as part of Mission Columbus. “Now we want to get the programs in place — that’s what will determine our success.”
When individuals enter The Hub, they are greeted with a relaxing “coffee-shop” feel to the entryway, with a coffee bar on one side and cafe tables and chairs near the opposite wall.
Turning right, visitors enter a large open space (once dominated by the Arvin safe in the middle, which is now gone), and find themselves in a comfortable seating area with couches, chairs and tables. Everything is done in ASAP’s chosen branding colors of teal, a red brick color and earth tones, which adds a quiet calm to the space.
Large windows allow light to flow in from all sides of the room, and the ceiling has the industrial look in gray with the mechanicals visible. Office space for the ASAP staff is on two sides of the room, tucked back from the main area segmented with glass partitions, and each office also has ample windows for natural light.
A line of sit-down computer stations is against one interior wall, for clients to fill out job applications, insurance information or other documents needed for their recovery.
At the entrance going to the left, a smaller conference area with comfortable seating occupies the first space, and then leads into a larger conference area and a small kitchen area.
The conference areas are designed to give individuals and families privacy to speak with staff members and address problems and concerns away from the general gathering area, Walsh said.
Another way ASAP saved money with furnishings was accepting an invitation from Cummins Inc. to pick out used furnishings at the downtown Corporate Office Building, which is being refurbished and will have new furniture. ASAP officials said Cummins pledged to donate or recycle all the furnishings that were being replaced in its corporate office building as part of its revamp, with none of the materials going to the landfill.
ASAP was able to obtain the ergonomic chairs from Cummins’ executive board room — which have been gently used and were probably valued at $500 to $800 apiece when purchased, which now are part of the conference room, office and table and chair setups.
Cummins also donated tables, the cafe tables, wall televisions, white boards, chalkboards and the office furniture for ASAP staff, along with the computer cubicles. Family Service Inc. donated the computers and the city of Columbus provided a printer for the facility. The Ridge church purchased new couches and other furniture being used in the entryway and gathering room.
Still to come will be a mural of the EOS sculpture in the entryway area and 12 photos from Columbus artists on canvas that are being completed by Bob Anderson, and will be installed soon.
“We want people to be proud of Columbus and what the city has done with this facility,” Walsh said of adding the Columbus connections to the decor. “We’re hoping this is a comforting and relaxing place — like going into someone’s apartment or home.”
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What: Alliance for Substance Abuse (ASAP) Community Progress Report
When: 6:30 p.m. Monday (doors open at 6 p.m. for Prevention and Recovery System partner exhibits and a Drug Take-Back event.
How much: Free
For more information: Visit asapbc.org.
Where: The Commons, 300 Washington St.
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ASAP, in a collaboration with The Republic, will distribute a 28-page information booklet about the organization, detailing progress in establishing a substance abuse prevention and recovery system, and providing more information about The Hub.
Copies will be available at the ASAP Community Report meeting at The Commons on Monday, and will be distributed in The Republic in Wednesday’s edition.
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