Project Summary: Cleveland State University (CSU) is inviting all Ohio artists and national artists to submit up to 10 digital images of past work for the Fenn Hall Biomedical Research Initiative Artwork Percent for Art Project commission. National artists are eligible only if they are alumni of Cleveland State University.

The commission amount is $192,500

From the submissions, a group of semi-finalists will be selected to visit the campus, meet with the committee (comprised of CSU faculty and staff), and visit the artwork site location to create a site-specific artwork proposal. CSU employees and their spouses are not eligible to apply for this commission. Students enrolled in any degree-granting program are not eligible to apply.

Project Background and Building History: Fenn Hall, formerly called Stilwell Hall, began as the Ohio Motors Co. Building, built in 1924 as an automobile showroom and service department. It was purchased by Fenn College (precursor to Cleveland State University) and substantially renovated in 1959. Prior to the building of the Ohio Motors Co. building the location was part of the grounds of former Cleveland mayor Tom L. Johnson's mansion, which was part of Cleveland's famous Millionaire's Row at 2342 Euclid Avenue. Its history reflects a legacy of making. During World War II, the building trained individuals to manufacture airplanes. It has always been a place where human ingenuity meets material reality. 

 For more information about the history of the building visit: https://clevelandhistorical.or...

Mission of School or Site: Ever since its acquisition by Fenn College in the 1950's the building has been home to the Fenn School of Engineering. When the school was renamed the Washkewicz College of Engineering in 2013, Stilwell Hall was re-christened Fenn Hall to preserve the Fenn name's long association with the engineering program. The "Foxes' Den Lounge" located in Fenn Hall, in what was formerly the auto showroom, is the lone reminder of a time when the campus mascot was the Fenn "Foxes" rather than the CSU "Vikings."

For over half a century, Fenn Hall has provided training for area engineers and provided Fenn College - and now Cleveland State University - with much needed classrooms, labs, a library, and an auditorium. The fourth floor of Fenn Hall is not simply a laboratory floor but a meeting place of intellect and imagination.