Scroll through this page. This page has information about the Conference venue, maps, power and wi-fi, printing posters, residence hall accommodation (including where to check-in), travel from airport, parking, disability access, dietary constraints, and visa invitation letters.

Venue

Here's a Google map with the key conference locations.

Most conference activities will be in the Ohio Union building on the Ohio State University campus (map). The talks and tutorials will be in the US Bank Conference Theater inside the Ohio Union building. The poster sessions will be at the Great Hall Meeting room, also inside the Ohio Union building, right next to the conference theater.

Here is some general information about visiting the Ohio State University campus and the city of Columbus.

Power outlets, Wi-Fi, and cell-phone charging

Free Wi-fi is available throughout campus for guests through the network Wifi@OSU. Power outlets are at every seat at the US Bank conference theater. If you wish to charge your cell phone, don't have your cable and can't borrow one, you'll find a few charging stations with different cables on the first floor lobby of the Ohio Union.

Printing posters

UniPrint at the Ohio Union (within the conference building) can print your posters and you can pay by credit card. Open 10am-6pm. Follow the above link to submit print jobs before you arrive (if you wish to save time). This printing facility is co-located with a Barnes & Noble College also within the Ohio Union -- on the 1st floor.

If you need other alternatives, here's the closest Fedex Kinkos (within walking distance) and here's a 24 hours Fedex Kinkos (need a taxi). If you have trouble with printing posters, let us know.

Accommodation at the Ohio State Residence Halls

Accommodation is available for attendees at the Ohio State student residence halls, for just over $30 per person for a double room and $60 per person for a single room ( approximate rates), paid at the time of registration. These residence hall rooms are across the street from the conference (< 5 minute walk): diagonally across the 11th ave and College Road intersection. All rooms have air-conditioning, a microwave and a refrigerator. We hope most attendees will prefer this option, as it makes for a more interactive conference. Check-in for the Ohio State Residence Halls will be at 'Smith-Steeb Hall', 80 W 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210. (map). You will be directed to your rooms in the same building when you check-in. You should be able to check in any time after about 11 am on your day of arrival, check-in open 24 hours. The 24/7 check-in and front-desk phone number for the residence hall is (614) 292-9725.

Each person will receive a blanket, a pillow + pillow cover, a couple of flat sheets, a towel, a washcloth, a soap and a cup. If anything gets soiled/becomes dirty, you may exchange these at the front desk of Smith-Steeb (where you checked-in). More information about the amenities are here.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the residence halls (but only a few are relevant to you). Let us know if you require any exceptions or have other questions!

Other hotels

Attendees may also consider the more upscale Blackwell Inn on the Ohio State campus (~15 minute walk) or hotels in the Short North Arts District/Downtown (Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Crowne Plaza, about 40-50 minute straight-line walk or 10 minute straight-line bus ride).

Another option is the Hilton Garden Inn (3232 Olentangy River Road, Phone: 877-782-9444), approximately 2 miles from campus. Call and ask for an OSU rate (about $120 per night when available). They offer a shuttle service to OSU on an as needed basis; call ahead to make a reservation.

Travel from Airport

Both the conference center (the Ohio Union) and the Ohio State student residence halls are inside the Ohio State University campus.

Travel from airport is easy with taxis. As you get out of Baggage Claim, look for signs for 'Ground Transportation' while inside the airport and when you get out, you should see signs for taxi. Taxis to the Ohio State campus will probably be around $30. See here for more details.

Check-in for the Ohio State Residence Halls will be at 'Smith-Steeb Hall', 70 W 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210. (614) 292-2151 (map). You will be directed to your rooms when you check-in.

Accessibility, special accommodations, and dietary constraints

Attendees with questions about access or accessible parking for the Ohio Union can find relevant information and contacts here. Here is the Disability Access Map for the Ohio Union.

During registration, we've asked you about any dietary constraints and preferences you may have. e.g., vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free.

If you need any other special arrangements or accommodations, please let us know and we will figure something out.

Parking

Whether you are driving up to Columbus from a neighboring state and/or are using a rental car while in town, here are a couple of overnight parking garage options: (1) any 24-hour OSU visitor garage. The closest garage to the conference center and residence halls is Ohio Union South, which is the building right next to the Ohio Union (conference center). (2) 24/7 South Campus Gateway parking and pay by the day (a block from the Ohio Union and residence halls).

In any of the above options, you can simply park your vehicle for the duration of the conference (say) and then pay and collect a receipt when you leave.

There is also some free street parking within reasonable walking distance just off-campus (a few blocks south of campus).

Other amenities

Conference-centric coordinate system. If you stand outside the Ohio Union or the dorms facing High Street, North is leftward on High Street and South is rightward on High Street.

There are numerous restaurants and coffee shops close by.

The nearest large grocery store is Kroger and is a 10 minute walk along high street, south of the Ohio Union.

Kroger also has a pharmacy (drug store) and a CVS pharmacy is a 10 minute walk north of the Union on high street (intersection of Lane Ave and High Street).

Within a block of the Ohio Union, there is a large Barnes & Noble book-store, where you can also get various standard office supplies (go south of the Union along High Street, intersection of High Street and 11th Ave).

A block south of the union (intersection of 11th ave and High Street), there is a public bicycle rental (COGO bikeshare) that you can access using your smart phone and a qr code reader; $6 for 24 hours.

The buses that run within the university campus are called CABS and are free. Hop on and hop off. These buses are red and white.

The city buses are called COTA. If you want to go up and down High Street, from and to downtown/short north areas, the bus you want to take is Bus number 2. These buses are red, white and blue.

If you're really bored very late friday evening and just want to relax, perhaps catch a movie at the Gateway Film Center, less than 5 minute walk from the conference building. Intersection of 10th Ave and High Street. If you want to ponder the biomechanics of insect locomotion and allometric scaling of strength-size scaling, we recommend Ant-Man.

Invitation letters for Visa

Please send us a note if you are traveling from out of the United States and would need a letter of invitation for getting a US Visa.