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.
Plans filed March 24 with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission show that the new flagship hospital for Indiana University 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.
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 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. Hospital officials said combining operations of the two 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,” said James Mladucky, vice president of design and construction for IU Health. “ 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.”
Hospital officials went on to say that the new hospital and campus will bring 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.
The plans submitted to the city includes two differently sized building options, of 14 and 16 floors. 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, hospital officials said.
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.
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.
RENDERING ABOVE – IU Health officials have submitted two plans to the city. Each are marked by three high-rise towers, one of 14 floors and the other 16 floors.
