Visit the Ohio Supercomputer Center

Types of Available Visits

The Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) offers both in-person and virtual options to visit. Possible topics include a general overview of supercomputing or a detailed look at OSC's supercomputers. Details are available below.  Simply complete the tour form and someone from OSC will contact you to discuss further.

Request an OSC Visit

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Topic: General Overview of Supercomputing

Alan Chalker, director of strategic programs, offers a lecture titled "What's so Super About Supercomputing." Attendees discover the field of supercomputing and the real-world applications of the world's fastest, most advanced computers. They learn about Ohio's pioneering supercomputing history and explore how high performance computing can supercharge their future.

A pre-recorded version that was originally presented via Zoom as part of the 2023 Ohio Tech Day is available here:

Watch Video

Dr. Chalker is also available to give the presentation live (which includes audience interaction) virtually (e.g. using Zoom, Teams, etc.) or in person at OSC's administrative offices (located in the Ohio Technology Consortium building on The Ohio State University's west campus). The presentation can be tailored to fit within time blocks ranging from 45 minutes to 90 minutes and for audiences as young as middle school. OSC's lecture hall can handle a maximum of approximately 80 in-person attendees. OSC prefers to give presentations during normal business hours on weekdays, but on occasion can meet after hours.

Topic: Detailed Look at OSC's Supercomputers

OSC houses its supercomputers at the State of Ohio Computer Center (SOCC) located on the west end of The Ohio State University campus. This facility is the largest state-owned facility of its kind in the Midwest. The state-of-the-art facility provides shared security, climate control and fully redundant electrical and mechanical support systems for a number of Ohio government agencies. The facility contains 360,000 square feet of space including 225,000 square feet of raised floor computer room. OSC currently has approximately 12,000 square feet of space in the facility with total usable power capacity of approximately 1,200 kilowatts.

A virtual interactive tour of the data center is available here:

OSC Data Center Virtual Tour

OSC staff are also available to give in-person tours of the data center. The tour can be tailored to fit within time blocks ranging from 1 hour to 2 hours and for audiences as young as middle school. All tour attendees must go through airport-style security screening to enter the building. OSC's server room can handle a maximum of approximately 15 in-person attendees. OSC prefers to give tours during normal business hours on weekdays, but on occasion can provide after-hours tours.

 

The OSC Administrative Building

The address of the OSC administrative building is:

Ohio Supercomputer Center
1224 Kinnear Road
Columbus, Ohio 43212
Phone: 614-292-9248

Entering the Building

The main entrance doors to OSC are located on the north and west sides of the building.
Please note: All building doors are locked at all times and only accessible to staff and students with a valid ID card.

Please use the north or the west entrance phones to call the person you are here to see. If you know the name and not the phone number of the person you are visiting, then please refer to the directory that is located next to the phone. The staff member will come to the door and escort you into the building.

If the person you are meeting does not answer, please call the OSC main number at (614) 292-9248. A staff person will come to the door and escort you into the building.

Parking

Parking for visitors is located in the west and south lots at 1224 Kinnear Road. Signs in these lots indicate that visitors must have a building parking permit in order to park in these spaces. Upon arrival visitors must obtain a building parking permit from your staff contact and place the permit on the vehicle's dashboard. The parking permits are valid for one day only and do not need to be returned. Please see your meeting coordinator if you have any additional questions about parking.

Maps


Local Map to OSC

Directions to OSC

From the North

  • Proceed south on I-71 to 270 (Indianapolis or West).
  • Follow 270 to 315 South.
  • Take 315 South to the Lane Avenue (Ohio State University) exit.
  • Turn right on to Lane Avenue.
  • At the next traffic light, turn left on to Kenny Road.
  • At the second light, turn right on to Kinnear Road.
  • Follow Kinnear Road until just past Graybar Electric.
  • Turn right at the Ohio State University Science & Technology Campus.
  • Follow this road until it dead-ends at the OSC building.
  • Visitors may park in both marked and unmarked spaces.

From the South

  • Proceed north on I-71 to 315 North.
  • Take 315 North to the Lane Avenue (Ohio State University) exit.
  • Turn left on to Lane Avenue.
  • At the second light, turn left on to Kenny Road.
  • At the second light, turn right on to Kinnear Road.
  • Follow Kinnear Road until just past Graybar Electric.
  • Turn right at the Ohio State University Science & Technology Campus.
  • Follow this road until it dead-ends at the OSC building.
  • Visitors may park in both marked and unmarked spaces.
 

From the East

  • Proceed west on I-70 to 315 North.
  • Take 315 North to the Lane Avenue (Ohio State University) exit.
  • Turn left on to Lane Avenue.
  • At the second light, turn left on to Kenny Road.
  • At the second light, turn right on to Kinnear Road.
  • Follow Kinnear Road until just past Graybar Electric.
  • Turn right at the Ohio State University Science & Technology Campus.
  • Follow this road until it dead-ends at the OSC building.
  • Visitors may park in both marked and unmarked spaces.

From the West

  • Proceed east on I-70 to I-670 East.
  • Take I-670 to 315 North.
  • Take 315 North to the Lane Avenue (Ohio State University) exit.
  • Turn left on to Lane Avenue.
  • At the second light, turn left on to Kenny Road.
  • At the second light, turn right on to Kinnear Road.
  • Follow Kinnear Road until just past Graybar Electric.
  • Turn right at the Ohio State University Science & Technology Campus.
  • Follow this road until it dead-ends at the OSC building.
  • Visitors may park in both marked and unmarked spaces.