Indiana University Approves Design for 11-Story Medical Education Building

The Board of Trustees at Indiana University recently approved the design of a new Medical Education Building for the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. The new facility will stand 11 stories tall, measure in at roughly 326,200 square feet and provide much-needed additional space for the instructional and research needs of various programs, according to a university news release.

The building will feature a three-story base with an eight-story tower above its southern quarter. The base will contain medical education facilities like support space, shell space for a research vivarium, classrooms, a medical library and collaborative learning spaces, as well as a central gathering space. The tower will contain three floors of faculty offices (floors 5–7) and three floors of flexible research space, as well as research support services and office space (floors 8­–10). The fourth and eleventh floors will serve as fully mechanical spaces that will provide mechanical services for the structure.

According to the news release, “The architecture expresses the unique character of Indiana University with its use of Indiana limestone and precast concrete accents. Along the first floor, warm brick accents will give scale to the building and acknowledge the use of brick on adjacent existing buildings.”

Local news reports that the new facility will be co-located with the Indianapolis Academic Health Center as part of a $1.6-billion development by IU Health in downtown Indianapolis.

The architectural design was developed by Browning Day and Perkins&Will. A university news story from 2020 reports that the project will cost an estimated $245 million, $75 million of which will be requested from the state of Indiana.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Pitzer College

    Designing for Change in Higher Ed Learning Environments

    Higher education will continue to evolve, and learning environments must evolve with it. By prioritizing adaptable infrastructure, thoughtful reuse, strong energy performance, and wellness-centered design, campuses can create spaces that support learning today while remaining flexible for the future.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • Miami University Approves New $242M Multipurpose Arena

    Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, recently announced that its Board of Trustees has approved construction of a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field, according to university news. The $242-million project will serve as a new centralized hub for student life and create space for economic development on campus.

  • Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 Education Design Showcase Awards

    Spaces4Learning has opened submissions for the 2026 Education Design Showcase! The awards program launched in 1999 with the goal of celebrating innovative, practical solutions in the planning, design, and construction of K–12 and higher-education facilities. EDS recognizes new developments that help achieve optimal learning environments, as well as the architecture firms that brought the ideas to life.