Indianapolis Artsgarden
Encyclopedia
The Indianapolis Artsgarden is a glassed dome spanning the intersection of Washington
and Illinois streets in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana
. It serves not only as a pedestrian connector between the Circle Centre Mall and nearby buildings, but also as a venue for the display and performance of artistic and musical works. In addition, the Artsgarden houses the Cultural Concierge which provides ticket information, maps, and visitor guides for art events in Indianapolis. The structure, including the walkways connecting it to the adjacent buildings, is owned and operated by the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
The Artsgarden was designed by Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects
who also designed the adjacent Circle Centre Mall. Blackburn Architects collaborated on the design and execution. The $12 million cost was funded by Lilly Endowment
.
The floor of the Artsgarden stands 17 feet (5.2 m) above the intersection. A series of arched steel trusses creates a graduated set of glassed vaults, the tallest of which is 75 feet (22.9 m) above the floor and 95 feet (29 m) above the street. The design yields a total free-span length of 110 feet (33.5 m) within the dome. A total of 32000 square feet (2,972.9 m²) of glass is used in the structure to give it an airy, open feel. The entire dome is set on two pairs of 185 feet (56.4 m) plate girders that diagonally span the intersection.
When initially constructed in 1995, the Artsgarden connected the second level of Circle Centre Mall on the southeast corner of the intersection with an upper level of the Claypool Courts on the northwest corner, while stairways provided access to the ground-level sidewalks on the northeast and southwest corners. In 2006 the Conrad Indianapolis
was built on the site of the small park that had been on the northeast corner and the stairway there was replaced with a direct connection to the hotel. In 2011 construction was started on a connector to the 16-story PNC Center and Hyatt Regency
hotel complex on the southwest corner. The owners of the complex in 1995 had declined to help pay for the connector; in 2010 an agreement was reached to split the $1.2 million cost, allowing completion of the original concept of the Artsgarden. The connector is expected to be completed by January 23, 2012.
Washington Street (Indianapolis)
Washington Street is the primary east-west street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The street follows the route of the National Road for almost all of its length in the city of Indianapolis. For a time, its entire length was designated as U.S...
and Illinois streets in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. It serves not only as a pedestrian connector between the Circle Centre Mall and nearby buildings, but also as a venue for the display and performance of artistic and musical works. In addition, the Artsgarden houses the Cultural Concierge which provides ticket information, maps, and visitor guides for art events in Indianapolis. The structure, including the walkways connecting it to the adjacent buildings, is owned and operated by the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
The Artsgarden was designed by Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects
Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects
Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects is an international architecture firm with offices in New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Shanghai...
who also designed the adjacent Circle Centre Mall. Blackburn Architects collaborated on the design and execution. The $12 million cost was funded by Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment
Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana is one of the world's largest private philanthropic foundations and is among the ten largest such endowments in the United States....
.
The floor of the Artsgarden stands 17 feet (5.2 m) above the intersection. A series of arched steel trusses creates a graduated set of glassed vaults, the tallest of which is 75 feet (22.9 m) above the floor and 95 feet (29 m) above the street. The design yields a total free-span length of 110 feet (33.5 m) within the dome. A total of 32000 square feet (2,972.9 m²) of glass is used in the structure to give it an airy, open feel. The entire dome is set on two pairs of 185 feet (56.4 m) plate girders that diagonally span the intersection.
When initially constructed in 1995, the Artsgarden connected the second level of Circle Centre Mall on the southeast corner of the intersection with an upper level of the Claypool Courts on the northwest corner, while stairways provided access to the ground-level sidewalks on the northeast and southwest corners. In 2006 the Conrad Indianapolis
Conrad Indianapolis
Conrad Indianapolis is a high-rise luxury hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was completed in 2006 and has 23 floors. The building includes street level retail and 243 luxury hotel rooms with 18 residential condominiums. Conrad is the destination venue for Indianapolis. They are known for hosting...
was built on the site of the small park that had been on the northeast corner and the stairway there was replaced with a direct connection to the hotel. In 2011 construction was started on a connector to the 16-story PNC Center and Hyatt Regency
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis, also known as PNC Center, is a mixed use high-rise in Indianapolis, Indiana. The building rises 22 floors and in height, and is currently the 17th-tallest building in the city. The structure was completed in 1977, and was designed by architectural firm Browning Day...
hotel complex on the southwest corner. The owners of the complex in 1995 had declined to help pay for the connector; in 2010 an agreement was reached to split the $1.2 million cost, allowing completion of the original concept of the Artsgarden. The connector is expected to be completed by January 23, 2012.