Indiana Business College, Indianapolis

The Indiana Business College wanted to consolidate its separate facilities into a central location.

In the spring of 2002, a building was purchased that was originally constructed in the 1920s and formerly housed a Chevrolet dealership.

The new home is a 51,000-sq.-ft. building and includes the renovation of the structure and a 14,000 sq. ft. addition.

The building contains 13 computer classrooms, 10 lecture rooms, office space, admissions office and a seven-server network. IBC houses 90 employees and about 800 students each year.

Client goals included establishing an updated vision of the college while honoring its history and providing enough space for additional enrollments and future growth.

Car Bays to Classrooms

Original plans called for demolition of most of the original structure, but upon review of the floor plans, it was quickly realized the car bays were comparable in size to the corridor dimensions needed for the school. This resulted in a reduction in demolition and new construction needs.

The brick on the west was demolished, exposing the concrete frame and allowing the opened area to be infilled with glazed curtain wall wrapped on all three floors with clear anodized aluminum sun shades and a translucent panel system acting as the skin.

The south elevation was restored with the existing paint and stripped to bring the elevation back to its original appearance. The north and east elevations were tuckpointed and painted to match the restored brick on the south elevation.

A major design issue was to create an urban campus with a welcoming atmosphere.
By turning the building to face the skyline, the parking lot leads to the beacon-like entrance on the west.

A vertical campus was created with a main stair tower and atrium space that allows for spontaneous interaction of students. The stair tower has evolved into an icon for the school.

Design-Build Used

Because of the project's fast-track nature, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing portions were handled as design-build. An MEP guide specification was used to facilitate comparisons with the MEP contractor proposals.

The MEP design teams were brought on board immediately after the drawings were finished. The hybrid of traditional architectural design and design-build, led by the guide specification, helped ensured success.

Design was also expedited, allowing work to commence sooner than traditional design-bid-build would have.

Some unforeseen issues developed, such as potential lead-based paints in the building and PCBs in the light fixtures. The fixtures were separated, placed in barrels and removed from the site.

The jury said, "They took a sow's ear and made a silk purse out of it. The college is a strong addition to the neighborhood. The design of the curtain wall is sophisticated yet simple - the right touch."

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