About the Project
Built in 1907 as the first Ohio State Fish Hatchery, millions of fish — walleye, yellow perch, salmon, whitefish, and more were raised in the facility until 1988. The Division of Wildlife then transformed the facility into an educational site, and after years of collaboration with Ohio Sea Grant it has been fully renovated. Reopened in summer 2025, the updated center blends history, science, and fun for visitors of all ages.
Graphite Design + Build joined the design team and over a period of almost 3 years helped completely reimagine the historic building. Along with conceptual design through to construction documents, Graphite sculpted, fabricated, and installed every exhibit and interactive in the space. The visitor center is now a fully immersive experience for visitors of the historic island.
