Ohio State University added a striking new element to rivalry week by lighting up the west side of its soon-to-open Wexner Medical Center University Hospital with a glowing script “Ohio”. The temporary display became a visual symbol of school spirit as anticipation built for the Buckeyes’ matchup against Michigan.
The illuminated design — visible from State Route 315 — was created by turning on lights in 88 patient rooms across 10 of the building’s 24 floors, according to an OSU news release. Volunteers coordinated the effort room by room, shaping the handwritten-style “Ohio” across the nearly complete tower.
.jpg)
The idea came from Tanner Gorman, a construction project manager who has spent three years working on the major hospital expansion. Earlier this fall, Gorman organized a similar lighting display spelling “OH-IO” to greet hospital staff during an early-morning operational rehearsal.
“Both designs were pretty easy to plan. I filled out a spreadsheet with all of the room numbers and then it just came together,” Gorman said in a news release.
The script display will remain through the weekend, serving as both a celebration of the hospital nearing completion and a rallying point before one of college football’s biggest annual showdowns. This year marks the 121st meeting between Ohio State and Michigan, with the Buckeyes heading into the noon kickoff in Ann Arbor looking to break a four-game losing streak.
The forthcoming 820-room University Hospital, a major addition to the Wexner Medical Center complex, is scheduled to open in early 2026. Designed to expand inpatient capacity, introduce advanced technology, and enhance specialty care, the hospital represents one of the largest medical infrastructure investments in OSU history. The building is already becoming a landmark — and now, a canvas for fan enthusiasm.
The Ohio State–Michigan rivalry game will air live on Fox and stream on Fubo. Radio broadcasts will be available on WBNS-FM 97.1 The Fan and WBNS-AM 1460 The Fan 2.
The lighting display also highlights a growing tradition at large construction sites and medical campuses: using building facades as temporary canvases for school pride or community support. With the tower not yet open to patients, OSU was able to safely coordinate access to rooms for volunteers and staff involved in the lighting effort.
The display has quickly become a popular photo opportunity for commuters and fans, many of whom shared images on social media as soon as the lights switched on. For OSU, it serves both as an uplifting gesture during rivalry week and a preview of the new hospital’s impact once it opens.
The Wexner Medical Center noted that activating the lights posed no operational challenges because utilities and electrical systems in the tower have already undergone testing in preparation for the 2026 opening.
Originally reported by Bailey in Dispatch.
