Indianapolis Grows a Pair

 ****January 2014 Update:  They have gotten rid of this design team, and there really hasn't been much of  a peep about this project.  Who knows?****

I am a fierce advocate for my home town.  A lot of people look down at Indiana and Indianapolis,  though they keep forgetting that Indianapolis is the 12th largest city in the country and the 2nd largest state capital.  We might not be the go-go metropolis like New York or LA, but Indianapolis actually does have a lot going for it.  We have a knack for pulling off large sporting events.  We have a world class art museum and 100 acre nature park.  There is a vibrant downtown, which attracts many for sporting events, conventions, and a pretty robust artistic community.

One thing we are not known for is architecture.  Indiana is home to a very large limestone industry.  In fact, if there is a building in the US made out of limestone, then it is more than likely Indiana Limestone.  So, architecture in the city tends towards big, leaden buildings, with the occasional bowing to short lived architectural conventions (Barton Apt: Brutalism, City-County Building: International Style, Federal Building: Brutalism - again).   Except for a few structures, specifically the NCAA headquarters, you would almost never know that modern master, Michael Graves, grew up here.  While some may complain about them, outside of the grandeur of the State Capitol, the most interesting buildings in downtown happen to be the Banker's Life Fieldhouse (Home of the NBA Pacers) and Lucas Oil Stadium (home of the NFL Colts).  They really are well designed buildings, but if you're thinking of iconic structures, Indianapolis and Indiana is pretty bereft, with the exclusion of Columbus, Indiana, which has tried to become an ersatz architectural hall of fame.

All of this might be changing, the Indianapolis Business Journal is reporting that the City of Indianapolis has awarded a $30 million transit hub project to Arup out of London, with the lead architect being Daniel Libeskind!  I am honestly tingling with anticipation.  Arup is known for it's work on the Sydney Opera House (!) and the Bird's Nest Stadium for the Beijing Olympics, and Libeskind, among many others, designed the Freedom Tower which eventually became the nearly completed One World Trade Center in New York City.  To say this is a gigantic leap forward is an understatement.  I just hope that they really let loose, and that they do not let the more conservative nature of some residents hamper their ability to make something truly architecturally significant.

I cannot wait to see the designs!  Maybe by taking a risk on a big time developer and architect, Indianapolis is ready to start attracting more world class talent.  There is major need for infill and density in downtown, and hopefully this will be the beginning of something amazing!