Indiana University Health has outlined design plans for its new downtown Indianapolis hospital showing a distinctive three-tower structure meant to flexibly serve the future healthcare needs of Indiana.
Filed March 24 with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission, the plans call for a new flagship hospital for IU Health that will sit on a 44-acre expansion to IU Health’s campus along 16th Street. Excavation for the hospital’s foundation will begin next week after several months’ work to extend utilities to the enlarged campus south of 16th Street.
The new hospital and campus, which will be developed over the next four to five years, will consolidate operations of IU Health’s two downtown adult acute care hospitals, the adjacent Methodist Hospital and University Hospital, located 1.5 miles away. Combining operations of the hospitals furthers IU Health’s mission to provide world-class, patient-centered care in ways that are more cost-efficient and accessible while eliminating costly duplication of high-acuity services.
“The new downtown hospital will become an iconic addition to the Indianapolis skyline, representing hope and healing for future generations. Significant in scale and stature, it is designed foremost as a destination for patients, offering leading-edge medicine in a flexible facility that can be reconfigured over time to accommodate advances in medical care and changing patient demand,” said James Mladucky, vice president of design and construction for IU Health.
Diversity goals
Development of the new hospital and campus brings significant business opportunities for veteran, women and minority-owned businesses and local companies under IU Health’s supplier diversity program. The program aims to award 30% participation on design and construction projects to certified veteran, women and minority-owned businesses and achieve at least 50% local business participation.
Distinctive design
Two differently sized building options, of 14 and 16 floors, were submitted to the city for review. The design includes a multi-story base containing an expansive outpatient center. Above are three inpatient bed towers holding up to 672 private patient rooms. To serve future growth, the design could accommodate a fourth tower with a basement-level extension to the south.
Both proposed size options feature LEED silver certified designs with a rooftop terrace and dual helipads. The hospital is styled to be welcoming and accessible, with transparent street-level entryways featuring wood-clad entry canopy soffits. The hospital will be well integrated into the surrounding medical campus and linked to neighboring buildings with walkways and tunnels. Landscaped areas around the hospital would be outfitted with outdoor seating connected by walks and serpentine paths and featuring native plantings and rain gardens.
The new campus will amount to one of the most notable construction projects in the history of Indianapolis and the largest investment yet by IU Health toward its mission to make Indiana one of the healthiest states. Construction of the new hospital is estimated to cost $1.6 billion, depending on its final size and economic uncertainties such as labor and material costs.
The architect for the hospital is Indianapolis-based CURIS Design, a collaboration of BSA LifeStructures, RATIO Design and CSO Architects. HOK serves as executive architect. Construction manager is a joint venture of locally based Wilhelm Construction and Gilbane Building Co. of Providence, R.I., which have extensive portfolios of hospital projects nationally.
Follow progress on the project at iuhealth.org/newhospital.