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Restored Ridges Building Now Home to New ILGARD Offices

January 2002

In January, the Institute for Local Government Administration and Rural Development (ILGARD) moved into a freshly renovated building that residents of the former Athens Mental Health Center once called home.

The building, now known simply as Building 22, was a cottage built in 1903 as part of an innovative plan to create a family-like atmosphere that would aid patients recovering from mental illness. This idea was an essential part of the Kirkbride plan, a radical architectural solution to mental illness at the time, which emphasized fresh air and indoor and outdoor recreation.

"The large common area, giant fireplaces and numerous windows are hallmarks of this design," says Mike Finney, associate director for operations and senior project manager at ILGARD. "Renovation was a challenge but the original design makes for some really unique office spaces."

According to Mark Weinberg, director of ILGARD and the Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs, expansion was essential in order to accommodate client and training services, make necessary technology updates and operate more efficiently. ILGARD also needed elbow room.

"The number and type of projects that we are involved in has grown so much since 1993 that we simply ran out of space," says Weinberg. "Involving Ohio University students in various projects required expansion as well; this year alone we employ 74 O.U. students."

Governor Taft and the Ohio General Assembly appropriated funding for the renovation, which concentrated on emphasizing the original beauty of the building while providing functional space for ILGARD's many units.

ILGARD's new address:
ILGARD
Ohio University
Building 22, The Ridges
Athens, Ohio 45701