Mirror Lake at The Ohio State University

Mirror Lake at The Ohio State University was the home to long storied tradition of students jumping into the lake in order to celebrate the beginning of the week of the school’s rivalry football game with The Team Up North (aka University of Michigan). Each November since 1969, hundreds of students would gather on the lake and face the frigid cold water to preserve luck and tradition. Being that this was not a University sponsored event and injuries of students began to rack up the tradition had to come to an end.

The School set forth to rebuild the lake and add a feature for the lake to be drained in order to prevent future mishaps. The Lake has been designed that just before the start of the famed "Michigan" the Mirror Lake can be completely drained with in 75 minutes, water stored in underground holding tanks, until time to allow the Lake to return to its natural beauty. (Wildlife fish and all complete) In addition to the visible trellises, ornamental railing and structural steel above grade, hot-dip galvanized steel was also used below grade in the underwater drainage lines and shut off valves that serve the function of draining the lake. The Ohio State University has become an institution for galvanizing projects since the mid 90's and the renovation of the Ohio Stadium.

Originally when being hounded by a local galvanizing marketer, galvanizing was selected was selected first because of color finish. After years in use exposure, the decision makers at the university could not ignore the economics, sustainability, longevity, and of course the corrosion protection.