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Eli Lilly and Co. plans to build a 57,000-square-foot conference center on an existing parking lot at its downtown headquarters campus, with the goal of hosting more of its global meetings in Indianapolis.
The drugmaker is asking the city for approval to improve the existing parking area and erect a two-story building on about five acres of land.
The proposed site is on the southeast corner of Alabama and Henry streets, just south of South Street Square Park. It is fully within the existing Lilly headquarters campus.
A projected cost for the project was not disclosed in the letter. A Lilly spokesman told IBJ the company is not disclosing that information.
The primary building façade will be situated to face Alabama Street, emphasizing the campus’ connection with downtown, said a letter from engineering consultant AECOM Technical Services in the petition package.
The northern portion of the Lilly campus would provide Lilly employees and visitors with easy access to hotels and restaurants in downtown Indianapolis, the letter said.
“The project team viewed the building as an interface between the city and the Lilly campus,” the letter said. “For this reason, we felt it was important to pay respect to the heritage of the Lilly campus while looking toward the future and creating a design that engages with local residents.”
The plan would reduce the number of total parking spaces on the campus by an unspecified number, made possible by the reduced number of employees who work daily at the headquarters.
The primary materials of the new building are brick, glass and concrete colors representative of Indiana limestone. The façade will feature images of medicine and molecular proteins in a mosaic.
Landscaping will be comprised of a selection of native plantings aligning with existing species. Site lighting will be kept to a minimum.
The petition will be heard June 27 through a regional center hearing examiner of the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development.
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Should be illegal to build below 25 floors within Downtown.
This policy would just result in nothing getting built.
It’s there own private land. You’re not screaming at the hotels for building 4-7 stories in the stadium area. You want this gathering source to sit on 23 floor high stilts or something. Until we change our residential living habits, remove parking development car ordinance requirements, and have more people overall in this state…we’re not getting minimum 10 story buildings let alone 25. Hahaha.
Everything you said isn’t totally accurate. Nashville’s metro population is similar in size to Indys metro. The entire population of both states are not too far apart as well, yet Nashville continues to build skyscrapers all over downtown. Nashville makes a demand to build large hotels and residential properties to accommodate the robust tourism industry there. Indy needs to take a page out of Nashville’s play book and build large mix use developments to entertain tourist. There needs to be more to do downtown after attending conventions or sporting events than just going out to eat or a few bars. More live entertainment and even some adult entertainment is much needed downtown Indy. Building high rises attracts people and gives the city a cool factor and BIG city feel.
Kevin P.
+ 1
High rise buildings being built ( 400 feet or taller ) gives the city a
cool vibe. It shows progress, Pride, and commitment to our city.
People always remember a city’s skyline. Always!!
** Also agree the downtown needs more entertainment and exhibits.
Downtown Nashville has an abundance of both.
A sizable portion of Circle Center should have been turned into
exhibit space. Flee markets, inner active Indy Car exhibits, arts & crafts,
Beer and Wine distillers. Many more possibilities.
I remember when downtown Indianapolis had a very vibrant
entertainment & bar scene. It was awesome.
Kevin agreed. But you only focused on my population comment..none of the actual policy stuff that would allow, push, urge, force more developers into building denser.
Kevin P., when you say adult entertainment what are you referring to? I hope you don’t believe we need more strip joints, I believe the Red Garter meets those needs.
Casino!!!!