Indianapolis Artsgarden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indianapolis Artsgarden |
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Artsgarden looking west from Washington Street in 2015
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Location | Intersection of Washington & Illinois streets |
| Address | 110 W. Washington St. |
| Town or city | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 39°46′02″N 86°09′35″W / 39.76717°N 86.15985°W |
| Completed | 1995 |
| Cost | $12 million |
| Owner | Arts Council of Indianapolis |
| Height | 95 feet (29 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 110 feet (34 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 19,000 square feet (1,800 m2) (including bridges) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects |
| Structural engineer | Weiskopf & Pickworth LLP |
| Main contractor | DeMars Program Management |
| Awards and prizes | Engineering Award of Excellence National Winner 1998 |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 600 standing, 400 seated, or 250 at tables |
The Indianapolis Artsgarden is a huge glass dome in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It sits right above the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets. This special building is more than just a cool sight. It helps people walk between the Circle Centre Mall and nearby office buildings or hotels.
The Artsgarden is also a popular spot for art shows and music performances. More than 300 events happen here every year! You can also find the Cultural Concierge inside. This is a helpful place where you can get information about local arts, cultural events, maps, and visitor guides. The Arts Council of Indianapolis owns and runs the entire structure, including the walkways that connect it to other buildings.
Contents
What is the Indianapolis Artsgarden?
The Artsgarden is a unique building known for its amazing glass dome. It acts like a giant, enclosed bridge that connects different parts of downtown Indianapolis. It's a busy place where people can easily walk from one building to another without going outside.
A Hub for Arts and Culture
Beyond being a walkway, the Artsgarden is a lively center for art and music. It hosts many different performances, from concerts to dance shows. It's a great place to experience the local arts scene. The Cultural Concierge desk helps visitors find out about all the fun things to do in Indianapolis.
Design and Construction
The Indianapolis Artsgarden was designed by a company called Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Architects. They also designed the Circle Centre Mall right next door. Another company, Blackburn Architects, helped with the design and building process.
How Much Did It Cost?
Building the Artsgarden cost about $12 million. This money was provided by the Lilly Endowment, a foundation that supports many good causes. The project was completed in 1995.
Amazing Architecture
The Artsgarden is built high above the street. Its main floor is about 17 feet (5.2 meters) above the intersection. The dome itself is made of many arched steel frames that hold up thousands of glass panels.
A Dome of Glass
The tallest part of the dome reaches about 75 feet (23 meters) above the floor, or 95 feet (29 meters) above the street. The dome stretches 110 feet (33.5 meters) across without any support in the middle. A huge amount of glass, about 32,000 square feet (2,973 square meters), was used to make the building feel open and bright. The entire glass dome rests on two strong steel beams, each 185 feet (56 meters) long, that cross the intersection diagonally.
Connecting the City
When the Artsgarden first opened in 1995, it connected the second floor of Circle Centre Mall to an upper level of the Claypool Courts building. There were also stairs leading down to the sidewalks on the street level.
New Connections Over Time
Over the years, the Artsgarden has added even more connections:
- In 2006, the Conrad Indianapolis hotel was built. The stairs on one corner were replaced with a direct walkway into the hotel.
- In 2011, construction began on a new connection to the PNC Center and Hyatt Regency hotel complex. This connection was part of the original plan for the Artsgarden, but it took time to get everyone to agree on the cost.
- The owners of the complex agreed to share the $1.2 million cost in 2010. This final connection was finished in January 2012, completing the Artsgarden's original vision.
