How Oakland Green Interiors Honors Ohio's Heritage with Statehouse Holiday Decor
The Ohio Statehouse at a Glance
- Industry: Government
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- About: The Ohio Statehouse, known as the "People's House," is one of the most historically significant buildings in Ohio — a working seat of government and a landmark of 19th-century Greek Revival architecture visited by thousands of Ohioans each year.
- Challenge: Design and install a large-scale Victorian-inspired holiday display befitting a monumental civic building, incorporating Ohio-specific design elements, while managing the extraordinary logistical demands of five trees across multiple floors — including a 25-foot centerpiece built around a hollow structural frame.
Results:
Oakland Green Interiors delivered a holiday installation worthy of one of Ohio’s most treasured civic landmarks. From a towering 25-foot atrium centerpiece to coordinated displays throughout the Rotunda and legislative floors, the installation honored the building’s historic character while bringing warmth, tradition, and Ohio pride to the thousands of visitors who pass through each holiday season — culminating in the annual tree lighting ceremony and visit from Santa Claus.
The Challenge
The Ohio Statehouse is not a typical venue. As a working government building with deep historical significance, any holiday installation must do more than look festive — it must feel appropriate to the grandeur and gravitas of the space it inhabits.
The scale alone presented considerable logistical demands. The atrium’s centerpiece tree stands 25 feet tall and is constructed around a massive hollow structural frame — requiring three truckloads of frame components and boxes just to transport and stage. Two 15-foot trees anchor the Rotunda, and additional 9-foot trees dress the second floor outside the House and Senate chambers, each requiring careful coordination across multiple levels of an active civic building.
Beyond logistics, the design brief carried real weight: create a display that reflects the building’s Victorian-era character, honors Ohio’s identity, and serves as the centerpiece for the Statehouse’s public tree lighting ceremony — a beloved annual tradition complete with a visit from Santa Claus. The installation would need to be both historically resonant and genuinely celebratory.
The Solution
Oakland Green Interiors approached the Statehouse installation with the same care and specificity the building demands.
A Victorian Palette, Executed at Civic Scale: The signature color story — burgundy, red, and gold — was carried consistently across all five trees and the garland-draped staircases, creating a unified visual experience throughout the building. Ribbons, berries, and candied fruit accents on the staircase garlands reinforced the Victorian aesthetic, lending warmth and period-appropriate detail to the grand architectural spaces.
Ohio Identity Woven Into the Design: Rather than a generic holiday display, the installation was designed with a clear sense of place. Ohio’s state bird, the cardinal, was featured throughout the atrium tree’s décor — a nod to natural Ohio that resonates with visitors of all ages. Brass bells added an “old timey” warmth that felt native to the building’s 19th-century bones.
Engineering the Centerpiece: The 25-foot atrium tree presented a unique construction challenge. Built on a large hollow frame, the tree is assembled from the inside out — installers work within the structure itself to build outward, a process that requires both physical agility and precise sequencing. Coordinating three truckloads of materials, staging the build across the atrium floor, and managing installation across multiple building levels demanded detailed logistical planning and an experienced crew.
Consistency Across the Full Footprint: The two 15-foot Rotunda trees were dressed to mirror the atrium’s palette and decorative language, ensuring the display felt cohesive rather than piecemeal. The second-floor trees outside the House and Senate chambers extended the installation’s reach without overpowering the more intimate legislative spaces.
The Outcome
The result is an annual installation that Ohioans look forward to — a holiday environment that honors the Statehouse’s historical character while making the “People’s House” feel genuinely festive and welcoming. The atrium tree, with its cardinal accents, brass bells, and Victorian palette, serves as a stunning backdrop for the building’s tree lighting ceremony each December, bringing together state employees, Columbus families, and visitors from across Ohio for one of the season’s most distinctive civic celebrations.
Elevate Your Space with Oakland Green Interiors
Oakland Green Interiors’ expertise in professional holiday decorating and biophilic design makes us the trusted partner for Columbus’s most iconic landmarks. Whether you are managing a massive public sector building or a boutique commercial space, our team is dedicated to bringing your vision to life with unique, safe, and high-quality designs.
If you want to skip the holiday stress and go straight to the cheer, contact us today to request a proposal for your custom holiday display!