A novel complex [$Zn(phen)(o-AB)_2$] [phen: 1,10-phenanthroline o-AB: o-aminobenzoic acid] was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction single-crystal analysis. The crystal crystallizes in monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c with $a=7.6397(6){AA}$, $b=16.8761(18){AA}$, $c=17.7713(19){AA}$, ${alpha}=90^{circ}$, ${eta}=98.9570(10)^{circ}$, ${gamma}=90^{circ}$, $V=2.2633(4)nm^3$, Z = 4, F(000) = 1064, S = 1.058, $Dc=1.520g{cdot}cm^{-3}$, $R_1=0.0412$, $wR_2=0.0948$, ${mu}=1.128mm^{-1}$. The Zn(II) is six coordinated by two nitrogen and four oxygen atoms from the 1,10-phenanthroline and o-aminobenzoic acid to furnish a distorted octahedron geometry. The complex exhibits intense fluorescence at room temperature. Theoretical studies of the title complex were carried out by density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP method. CCDC: 898291.