A new 248,000-square-foot red brick building will be built in downtown Indianapolis, with completion anticipated in May 2027, to provide Purdue University students with STEM-focused, project-based learning. Photo Credit: Purdue University
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Purdue University to Expand Downtown Presence with New $187 Million Project

By Fay Harvey

INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue University has officially released renderings of the soon-to-be-built Academic Success Building, a $187 million facility that will bring classrooms, laboratories, dining, student housing and community-centered spaces to the heart of downtown Indianapolis. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2025 and is slated for completion in May 2027. Indianapolis firm Browning Day will serve as the project architect, with support from national firm Perkins & Will. The project’s construction manager is Shiel Sexton, also of Indianapolis. 

The project marks the first construction endeavor for Purdue University since the institution split from Indiana University in summer 2024 as Purdue University seeks to develop a distinct downtown presence. Plans for the 248,000-square-foot building, which were approved by the University’s Board of Trustees in June 2024, include 15 stories of new construction, which will be neighbored by five other academic buildings. By bringing an additional facility to the intersection of West and Michigan streets, the University will further establish its presence in the urban core.  

The new facility will include academic classrooms and laboratories together with housing for 500 students and the dining commons sized to serve 400 people. The futureproofed design anticipates the university’s evolving educational needs and will offer innovative career-ready programs. The design also incorporates a community element, as project-based learning centers will be included to offer Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEAM) programs for K-12 students. 

“Purdue University in Indianapolis is heavily focused on experiential learning and immersing ourselves into the community,” said David Umulis, senior vice provost Purdue University for Indianapolis, in a statement. “The Academic Success Building will create a welcoming arrival to the Indianapolis campus and serve as a thrilling way to provide our students, the Indianapolis area and our partners from around the globe with cutting-edge learning environments, study spaces, residential space and eat-in accommodations all under one roof.” 

The $187 million will be provided through a non-fee replaced debt, with an auxiliary housing dining fund of $105 million, $60 million in capital cash appropriation and $22 million in philanthropic funds. The project is one of multiple major construction initiatives currently underway across Purdue University, including the $73 million Zucrow High-Speed Propulsion Lab, set to debut this month, a new $149 million residence hall that will be completed in August 2026, a $160 million Nursing and Pharmacy Education Building that will open in December 2026, and the $168 million Mitch Daniels School of Business Building, which broke ground in September 2024 and also anticipates an August 2027 completion.