Howard Dwight Smith

Inducted: 2009

An architect and educator, Howard Dwight Smith made a significant impact on the built environment of Central Ohio. Probably his best-known work is Ohio Stadium, for which he won an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1921. As OSU's University Architect (1929-1956), Smith designed numerous academic buildings and dormitories, St. John Arena, the OSU Golf Clubhouse, and the now iconic stack tower of Thompson Library. He taught architecture at OSU (his alma mater), for 30 years, receiving the Distinguished Service Award in 1955.

Smith served as Consulting Architect to the Upper Arlington and Columbus Boards of Education. He designed the first Upper Arlington High School (now Jones Middle School) and later Barrington Elementary School, for which he won the Ohio Society of Architect's Gold Medal in 1941. In private practice, he designed many homes in Upper Arlington, served as chief designer for Columbus City Hall and the Central Police Station, and consulted on the designs of First Community and First Congregational Churches.

An Upper Arlington resident for almost 40 years, Smith also gave back to the community he helped to build, filling many volunteer roles for First Community Church, serving on the Upper Arlington Board of Building Standards and the City Planning Commission, and as a member of Columbus Rotary Club and American Institute of Architects.