http://cmsimg.indystar.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Dato=20091102&Kategori=NLETTER08&Lopenr=311020005&Ref=AR&MaxW=580&MaxH=460&Q=100&Site=BG&MaxW=580&MaxH=600

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updated: 11/2/2009 6:18:46 AM
NCAA Announces Headquarters Expansion
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report (http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=38494)

Press Release

The NCAA Executive Committee at its October 29 meeting in Indianapolis approved a $35 million, 130,000 square-foot addition to the NCAA national office that will be funded primarily through savings and funds currently budgeted for leased space.

Construction will begin in spring 2010 and is projected to be completed early in 2012.

Current NCAA national office space accommodates approximately 500 full-time, part-time and contract employees − plus meeting space, technology services and other administrative functions − in space designed for fewer than 350.

The office relocated from a Kansas City suburb to Indianapolis in 1999. Based on projections made in the mid-1990s, the national office building was designed to accommodate an annual growth of 2 percent in staffing over 20 years.

In the intervening decade, though, the Association has doubled the size of the enforcement investigation staff, expanded its research, and academic and membership affairs staffs to accommodate a comprehensive academic-reform effort, and brought the NCAA Eligibility Center into the national office environment. (The Eligibility Center’s 70 employees are being housed temporarily in the Association’s off-site warehouse facility in Indianapolis.)

NCAA Executive Committee chair Michael Adams said Executive Committee members cited a favorable construction climate among reasons to embark on the capital project at this time.

“The economic downturn of the last 18 months has postponed or indefinitely delayed many facility expansions within higher education and elsewhere,” Adams said. “However, there is timeliness in terms of both competition among contractors in a sparse construction market and cost savings for construction commodities that cannot prudently be ignored even in a conservative budgeting approach.”

NCAA Interim President Jim Isch said local construction projects have been 10 to 20 percent below previously projected costs.

Also, additional savings from requiring more than 95 percent of committee meetings to be held at the national office will be under-realized without the additional space.

The addition will integrate with the existing national office in terms of design and will significantly enhance the availability of flexible space that can transition among various uses. Included in the total square footage are about 24,000 square feet of meeting and conference space in addition to 106,000 square feet for office space.

Isch said a number of financing options are being explored, including bonds or NCAA reserves. The NCAA Executive Committee will review the financing options after the first of the year and will determine the best approach for the Association.

He said already budgeted space and services rental ($2 million annually) for the Eligibility Center will significantly offset Association’s debt-service obligation. Balance of repayment costs and schedule range from $300,000 annually over 20 years to $3.7 million annually over six years.

The operational costs for the facility will be financed by internal reallocations.

Source: NCAA




NCAA expansion will contain costs (http://www.indystar.com/article/20091102/NLETTER08/311020005/1003/BUSINESS/NCAA+headquarters+plans++35M+expansion)
Growth in sports agency spurs project to double office and meeting space by 2012

Overcrowded with a growing staff, the NCAA headquarters in White River State Park will double in size via a $35 million expansion to be under construction by spring.
The executive committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association agreed this week to go ahead with the project, which was planned under the administration of the NCAA's late president, Myles Brand, who died Sept. 16.

Bob Williams, managing director of public and media relations for the NCAA, said Friday that the 130,000-square-foot expansion will include offices and meeting space.
The new structure will be a separate building on the west side of the current 116,000-square-foot headquarters, linked by a second-floor bridge.
When complete, the NCAA campus at 700 W. Washington St. will include three buildings: the existing national headquarters built in 1999, the proposed addition to open in mid-2012 and the existing 30,000-square-foot Hall of Champions and convention center.
The proposed expansion roughly doubles the office and meeting space for the national association staff.
Williams said the current building was constructed for about 350 employees and was expected to contain the operations over 20 years. However, in less than 10 years, there now are about 500 working for the NCAA.
That includes about 70 people in the Eligibility Center, which is in a warehouse-turned-office-building near 16th Street and the White River, about a mile from the main building.
No fundraising campaign is expected for the building project. Williams said it will be financed with about $2 million a year that is currently budgeted for rental space and other savings.
The glass-and-brick exterior design of the four-story building is intended to complement the existing building.
Much of the ground floor will have meeting and conference rooms and related facilities, so that the national organization's meetings can all be held here.
"In an effort to curtail costs, we are setting a goal of holding 95 percent of the association's meetings in Indianapolis. We have all sorts of committees and other groups, and they have met in locations all around the country," Williams said.
"Bringing all of that to Indianapolis is a cost containment. But in order to do that, we have to ensure that we have adequate meeting space here."

Ratio Architects NCAA Expansion (PDF) (http://www.ratioarchitects.com/assets/uploads/NCAA_Headquarters_Expansion.pdf)


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/SvCEf3u6gRI/AAAAAAAADwU/ak6ZHc9i_Tw/s640/NCAA%20Expansion%201.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/SvCEfxOBbGI/AAAAAAAADwY/oVsUC6KFx54/NCAA%20Expansion%202.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/SvCEgGBE0qI/AAAAAAAADwc/vGgDwU6drVw/NCAA%20Expansion%203.jpg


RATIO (http://www.ratioarchitects.com/) was tapped to design a 143,000 sq. ft. expansion to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) headquarters in downtown Indianapolis, IN, originally designed by renowned architect, Michael Graves. The expansion’s design highlights the NCAA’s support of the student/athlete’s academic strength; harmonizes with the adjacent state park’s open vistas and future campus green space; and allows the NCAA Hall of Champions to be the prominent architectural expression. Sustainable elements are also part of the expansion’s design. The exterior building envelope is modulated based on solar orientation, giving consideration to day lighting and views. HVAC and lighting systems are designed to automatically adjust or shut down during periods of limited demand, resulting in reduced energy consumption. Last, air quality is increased through use of sustainable construction materials, and recycling accommodations for building occupants will be located throughout the building.
NCAA Headquarters Expansion
NCAA / Indianapolis, IN

The design is actually quite nice. Unfortunately, it looks to be yet another canal/WRSP-fronting building that serves no one but the primary tenant.

Am I seeing a new water feature that interfaces with the canal just before it dumps into the White River? Interesting.

I wonder what NIFS is going to do about parking? There is room on the west side of the building to put in a surface lot but I don't know who's lot it actually is. (in between NIFS and the Michael Carroll Stadium/ baseball practice field)

That whole area of IUPUI campus is also being reviewed for future use. The campus plan due early 2010 is supposed to have information on the future of the Natatorium, The Indianapolis Tennis Center, and the outdoor tennis courts. The plan is rumored to possibly include a new IUPUI basketball arena / event / convention space near to or replacing one or more of the previously mentioned tennis facilities.

there appears to be, not only a new canal feature but an expansion of the park back into iupui's campus, the rendering makes it hard to tell but it looks like it might wipe out the tennis courts ... perhaps this project in incorporated into the re-plan itself ??? Regardless, i like the design and i'm glad to see basic environmental design being incorporated into this. will the public have access to the green roof ?

Am I seeing a new water feature that interfaces with the canal just before it dumps into the White River? Interesting.

WHOAH.

There look to be some huge clues in those renderings about the future of the IUPUI campus.

Unless Ratio is taking some huge liberties. Start comparing aerials and you'll see what I mean.

there appears to be, not only a new canal feature but an expansion of the park back into iupui's campus, the rendering makes it hard to tell but it looks like it might wipe out the tennis courts ... perhaps this project in incorporated into the re-plan itself ??? Regardless, i like the design and i'm glad to see basic environmental design being incorporated into this. will the public have access to the green roof ?

Yup, that's what I'm seeing.

The angled-facade building north of NIFS in the rendering below is not there currently either. It looks like the park extension cuts across New York St. as well. Very, VERY, interesting.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/SvCEgGBE0qI/AAAAAAAADwc/vGgDwU6drVw/NCAA%20Expansion%203.jpg

Yeah, I noticed that also. Don't know what to think about that. It also looks like NY Street is gone actually... (look at the location of the NAT and where NY should be) I don't really trust this to tell me that much about the new IUPUI campus plan.

well it says right in there pdf, "harmonizes with the adjacent state
park’s open vistas and future campus green space"

with regards to the future of the campus replan, I wont take what's on the page literally, but it is very encouraging, and seems to indicate some kind of long term planning on iupui, and ratio's part. At the same time its not far fetched ratio would be dropping clues in those renderings, they are involved with the glick eye center, another development with the replan. It would make sense they would be in the know with what's going on if there working on multiple projects that would, undoubtedly, effect the campus.

well it says right in there pdf, "harmonizes with the adjacent state
park’s open vistas and future campus green space"

with regards to the future of the campus replan, I wont take what's on the page literally, but it is very encouraging, and seems to indicate some kind of long term planning on iupui, and ratio's part. At the same time its not far fetched ratio would be dropping clues in those renderings, they are involved with the glick eye center, another development with the replan. It would make sense they would be in the know with what's going on if there working on multiple projects that would, undoubtedly, effect the campus.

Yup.

"The expansion’s design highlights the NCAA’s support of the student/athlete’s academic strength; harmonizes with the adjacent state
park’s open vistas and future campus green space; and allows the NCAA Hall of Champions to be the prominent architectural expression."

Those are nice clues.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g-J5F47Klrs/SYCzKA0_VYI/AAAAAAAABu8/YBuHvdvtdz0/s400/IUPUI+rendering+400.jpg

Did some digging around, found one of the master plan sketchups ... You can see the park and the preliminary design of the expansion here as well !

This has me really worked up about IUPUI's future plans !!! Can't wait to see some real renderings of the campus.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g-J5F47Klrs/SYCzKA0_VYI/AAAAAAAABu8/YBuHvdvtdz0/s400/IUPUI+rendering+400.jpg

Did some digging around, found one of the master plan sketchups ... You can see the park and the preliminary design of the expansion here as well !

This has me really worked up about IUPUI's future plans !!! Can't wait to see some real renderings of the campus.
Interesting that this months-old sketchup shows this NCAA expansion in white -- as though it was already built -- whereas placeholder buildings are in yellow.

I wonder if there are any other clues in the campus sketches about soon-to-come buildings.

Am I seeing a new water feature that interfaces with the canal just before it dumps into the White River? Interesting.

That would technically be a reconstruction of an old water feature on the site...Fall Creek. It used to meet the White River at the same place as the canal empties today, before the Army Corps "drained the swamp" and straightened out the channel to run along 10th St. The portions of Wishard away from the corner of 10th & Indiana are built on the filled in creek channels, as is much of the rest of the central IUPUI campus area.

Old maps are wonderful things...:)

Not wild about the design. I see parts of other buildings that Ratio has designed. Just feel that new design strategies need to happen, regardless of the areas that are being developed.

All in all I think the design is pretty solid, especially when framed in the context of future development at IUPUI. I like the bit in the project statement about allowing "the NCAA Hall of Champions to be the prominent architectural expression"-- the understated addition is certainly a step in the right direction. The only issue I have is the relative height of the new design and the way it blocks out the west facade of the Graves building.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2352/2317952555_1a824cc653.jpg
As this image of ginger children describes, the orientation of the Hall of Champions with those long barrel vaults makes for one of the nicer skyline compositions from across the White river. Its one of the few gestures in Indy's downtown that actually acknowledges the river's potential and creates a dialog between both sides.

Here's a link to the new IUPUI (+ IU Bloomington) Master Plan presentation to the Board of Trustees from February 19, 2009:

FYI, it's a powerpoint file. If you don't have Office, gmail/google docs has the ability to open it. There are other online alternatives as well.

http://www.indiana.edu/~iunews/IUmasterplan.ppt

I really like this sketch. And as I was looking through that power point I also noticed that under the new green park area in between the Nat and Herron that crosses over NY street there is supposed to be underground parking.

I also noticed that there is a possibility of getting rid of all of the one way streets... so NY Michigan and Blackford would be 2 way. (slide 85)


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Relevant images from the presentation below.

I've also uploaded several more from the presentation to flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ablerock/sets/72157622608599319/

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2711/4075439922_bba5f6a8c1_o.png

I really like this sketch. And as I was looking through that power point I also noticed that under the new green park area in between the Nat and Herron that crosses over NY street there is supposed to be underground parking.

I also noticed that there is a possibility of getting rid of all of the one way streets... so NY Michigan and Blackford would be 2 way. (slide 85)


http://lh6.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/SvGlH1XlWFI/AAAAAAAADxA/BD6kTIsly6E/s912/Picture1.jpg

Look at that fancy highrise!!! I know that these buildings are place-holders, but to put a tower there means that they have some sort of plan. Is it a dorm?

All in all, I really like this master plan and look forward to seeing the Campus develop

The campus plan due early 2010 is supposed to have information on the future of the Natatorium, The Indianapolis Tennis Center, and the outdoor tennis courts. The plan is rumored to possibly include a new IUPUI basketball arena / event / convention space near to or replacing one or more of the previously mentioned tennis facilities.

Is this "early 2010" plan you're referring to just more detailed than the one the board approved in Feb?

There's also a performing arts space with 3 venues, from small to large, in the works. A gentleman representing the theater, if you will, spoke up at the Master Plan presentation I went to last year. He inquired about the plan's effects on their project and wanted to make sure they were working together for the best outcome. It sounded like a done deal the way he was speaking.

Look at that fancy highrise!!! I know that these buildings are place-holders, but to put a tower there means that they have some sort of plan. Is it a dorm?

Check this out!

http://www.iupui.edu/~iuihome/podcasts/?episode=288

In this video, Chancellor Bantz speaks about the plan and addresses concerns about removing the track and gives a little clue about plans for possible housing, housing that may not be just for students. :-)

Narrator: "Under the current master plan green space replaces the stadium, there is an option to keep the track. There is also a second option."

Bantz: "You should also know they think that's the best place if we were to building housing that you or I could buy, that's where we should do it. Everyone love the views there."

Is this "early 2010" plan you're referring to just more detailed than the one the board approved in Feb?

There's also a performing arts space with 3 venues, from small to large, in the works. A gentleman representing the theater, if you will, spoke up at the Master Plan presentation I went to last year. He inquired about the plan's effects on their project and wanted to make sure they were working together for the best outcome. It sounded like a done deal the way he was speaking.


Yes I believe so. I think that it has to do with the immediate future of the Indianapolis Tennis Center, the Nat, and the Carroll stadium. I looked for the news report that I heard this from, but I couldn't find it. From what I remember of the report (from sometime in the past month or so) the main focus was giving the Jags Basketball program a better venue and having a place to hold commencement and larger events.

I will keep looking for my source...

Yes I believe so. I think that it has to do with the immediate future of the Indianapolis Tennis Center, the Nat, and the Carroll stadium. I looked for the news report that I heard this from, but I couldn't find it. From what I remember of the report (from sometime in the past month or so) the main focus was giving the Jags Basketball program a better venue and having a place to hold commencement and larger events.

I will keep looking for my source...
Why doesn't IUPUI work out some agreement with the Pacers to play at Conseco Fieldhouse?

I understand an on-campus facility would be nice, but it seems it would be cheaper to play at Conseco, and Conseco is probably the best basketball arena in the country.

Why doesn't IUPUI work out some agreement with the Pacers to play at Conseco Fieldhouse?

I understand an on-campus facility would be nice, but it seems it would be cheaper to play at Conseco, and Conseco is probably the best basketball arena in the country.

They do have an agreement to play (i think) 4 home games this season at Conseco. IUPUI does need convention style space for other events such as commencements, awards dinners, job fairs, athletic events, summer camps, etc. They might as well integrate an athletic facility into the convention space and get the most use out of the investment.

IUPUI is also getting a fair amount of recognition for its basketball program and a new facility will help to draw in more talent. Playing some games at Conseco is a good move, but the Jags need an on campus home. To really build on campus support for IUPUI athletics there needs to be a good facility for Basketball, tennis, volleyball, etc. Good colleges have quality athletics programs. (even if their teams are not top ranked)

Why doesn't IUPUI work out some agreement with the Pacers to play at Conseco Fieldhouse?

I understand an on-campus facility would be nice, but it seems it would be cheaper to play at Conseco, and Conseco is probably the best basketball arena in the country.
IUPUI was in negotiations to play their entire season at Conseco this year but apparently it didn't work out:

http://www.indy.com/articles/iupui/thread/new-jungle-for-jaguars-conseco-fieldhouse

It's too bad they couldn't make it work. Seems like such a win-win: IUPUI gets a great venue to play in and Conseco gets some additional events to bolster its budget.

Can you imagine the recruiting coup it would be for Ron Hunter if he could tell potential players that they could regularly play in an NBA arena?

They do have an agreement to play (i think) 4 home games this season at Conseco. IUPUI does need convention style space though, so they might as well integrate an athletic facility into it. IUPUI is also getting a fair amount of recognition for its basketball program and a new facility will help to draw in more talent. Playing some games at Conseco is a good move, but the Jags need an on campus home.

Also to really build on campus support for IUPUI athletics there needs to be a good facility for Basketball, tennis, volleyball, etc. Good colleges have quality athletics programs. (even if their teams are not top ranked)
I'm not buying the need for on-campus athletics/convocation facilities. Plenty of top-notch college athletics programs have their facilities separate from their academic grounds, often much further away than Conseco Fieldhouse relative to IUPUI. The need is even more dubious when you consider that IUPUI is a commuter campus. IUPUI students aren't tethered to campus the way they are at many schools.

IUPUI was in negotiations to play their entire season at Conseco this year but apparently it didn't work out:

http://www.indy.com/articles/iupui/thread/new-jungle-for-jaguars-conseco-fieldhouse

It's too bad they couldn't make it work. Seems like such a win-win: IUPUI gets a great venue to play in and Conseco gets some additional events to bolster its budget.

Can you imagine the recruiting coup it would be for Ron Hunter if he could tell potential players that they could regularly play in an NBA arena?


I'm not buying the need for on-campus athletics/convocation facilities. Plenty of top-notch college athletics programs have their facilities separate from their academic grounds, often much further away than Conseco Fieldhouse relative to IUPUI. The need is even more dubious when you consider that IUPUI is a commuter campus. IUPUI students aren't tethered to campus the way they are at many schools.


But IUPUI really wants to change the commuter thing though... well at least add a bunch of residential to the campus, not necessarily get rid of the commuters.

But IUPUI really wants to change the commuter thing though... well at least add a bunch of residential to the campus, not necessarily get rid of the commuters.
Even if every IUPUI student lived on campus, I'm still not buying it. In my opinion, IUPUI should be leveraging their proximity to downtown Indianapolis and the facilities available there. That eliminates the need to build duplicate facilities while helping to bridge the gap between campus and downtown.

Speaking of IUPUI playing at Conseco and the fieldhouse's effect on recruiting...
Hunter's excitement for the unique arrangement comes from realizing its benefits. He already has brought four recruits to practice this fall, including a key one from Kentucky, and the wide-eyed reaction has always been the same.

In one case, the recruit committed to attend IUPUI on the walk out to the car. Jaguars senior Robert Glenn understands the mark such an arena leaves on young players because he feels it, too.

"They love it being in an NBA arena," he said. "We get to see the (Pacers) players and coaches. They all come in here when we're here."

Said Hunter: "It legitimizes what we're doing (with the program) and gives it a big-time feel."

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911030369

Even if every IUPUI student lived on campus, I'm still not buying it. In my opinion, IUPUI should be leveraging their proximity to downtown Indianapolis and the facilities available there. That eliminates the need to build duplicate facilities while helping to bridge the gap between campus and downtown.

I'm in 100% agreement with you here, CorrND. Plenty of non-commuter schools have spatially separated athletic playing fields from the rest of campus. I suspect this might actually be the status quo for some of the larger schools in urban settings.

What are the chances of IUPUI starting a football program?

Thoughts anyone???

Looks like this expansion of the NCAA headquarters is getting close to starting. I received this notice from NIFS about the parking lot being moved to the north when the headquarters expansion starts being constructed.

NIFS Members and Patrons:
Parking at NIFS will undergo changes beginning May 3 due to construction of the 130,000 square foot NCAA expansion directly to the east of NIFS where our parking lot is now located.

Over the next two years, the NCAA and White River State Park will experience exciting changes that will further enhance this area. These changes will affect NIFS short-term and long-term parking arrangements. Right now, I would like to communicate the short-term parking solution that will be in place from May 3 to early August 2010.

From May 3 to early August 2010, you will have two parking choices:
1. Six of the tennis courts across the street from our main entrance on University Boulevard are being converted into 120 temporary parking spaces. This will be a dedicated NIFS lot. We will call it the "NIFS North Parking Lot."
2. Overflow spaces will be available in the Sports Complex garage (across the street from NIFS, next to the Natatorium).
During this time of year, the new parking spaces in the NIFS North Parking Lot will accommodate most of our parking needs. You can anticipate utilizing the Sports Complex garage for overflow parking during some of our weekday peak evening hours.
We appreciate IUPUI's temporary solution for our parking needs and we will continue to work with them on details for a convenient long-term parking solution. It is our expectation that parking accommodations will improve as we progress through this stage of growth in the surrounding area.
While the NCAA expansion is great for our community, as it is with any expansion or construction project, there will be some short-term inconvenience. One way we expect to minimize this impact is by providing regular updates on Facebook and Twitter (links below) and on our Web site . Over the next two weeks, look for more information on both the short-term parking plan and our communication plan.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of NIFS.
Sincerely,

Jerry Taylor
President
National Institute for Fitness and Sport
________________________________________

I had completely forgotten about this project. Glad to hear it is getting started.

What are the chances of IUPUI starting a football program?

Thoughts anyone???

I doubt seriously!

HOWEVER, I would love to Butler get a football program going. With their recent success, maybe its not too much of a stretch...???

I doubt seriously!

HOWEVER, I would love to Butler get a football program going. With their recent success, maybe its not too much of a stretch...???

Here you go: Butler Football (http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-footbl/index)

Some action over at the NCAA site. The road is closed that leads to the west lot. Nothing big, but it seems like this is preliminary work on the existing building/infrastructure leading up to the construction of the new facility.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/S_cM4deSoHI/AAAAAAAAElw/pO-8iB_zyb4/s640/photo%203.jpg

Here you go: Butler Football (http://www.butlersports.com/sports/m-footbl/index)

Matt,

Thanks for the link. I didn't know that Butler was renovating and expanding their football stadium. Looks pretty cool.

Has anybody seen any renderings of what this addition is supposed to look like? I wonder if it is also by Michael Graves - to match his original building and Hall of Champions. I'm kind of doubtful -- because if it were, I think we would have heard about it by now. Hopefully it will be something that blends well with the existing complex. Sure was crowded along the canal today. Some kind of 5K walk for something was going on when I was down there around 1:00. It was definitely packed - with sunny skies and 80+ degrees.

Has anybody seen any renderings of what this addition is supposed to look like? I wonder if it is also by Michael Graves - to match his original building and Hall of Champions. I'm kind of doubtful -- because if it were, I think we would have heard about it by now. Hopefully it will be something that blends well with the existing complex. Sure was crowded along the canal today. Some kind of 5K walk for something was going on when I was down there around 1:00. It was definitely packed - with sunny skies and 80+ degrees.

You could try looking at the first page. Plenty of renderings there. And yes, it looks to complement the surrounding areas quite well. ;)

^^ Thanks :doh: I can't believe I somehow missed that entire first page of the thread. Wow --- that's a pretty decent design. Those campus renderings are pretty great to study also.

The heading on this thread should be changed from "Proposed" to "Under Construction". There is an excavation underway at the site and a section of concrete foundation that has been poured.

The steel in the NW quadrant of the site for this addition is now up to the second story level. I would think a moderator should change this now from Proposed to Under Construction.

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Thats great! New Steel and the tennis stadium coming down... This area is going be so different in a few months!

Cool. Just love the ugly-ass steam plant in the background. Downtown is such a beautiful place. I personally think it is one of the prettiest cities in the nation, but that steam plant has always been an eye sore. If they can't move it outside the city limit, than I really wish they would tear it down and build a more modern style plant. At least one that will try and go along with all the new construction and fit in.

Cool. Just love the ugly-ass steam plant in the background. Downtown is such a beautiful place. I personally think it is one of the prettiest cities in the nation, but that steam plant has always been an eye sore. If they can't move it outside the city limit, than I really wish they would tear it down and build a more modern style plant. At least one that will try and go along with all the new construction and fit in.

I totally agree..it definitely needs to be updated.. I thought maybe that plant would be part of the Super Bowl fund.. ha even new windows and a new paint job wouldn't hurt..

I knda like the steam plant! It adds a bit of grit to our otherwise very sterile downtown

I used to think it was a detriment, but its a city. There are gritty things to be expected in a city. I welcome seeing it. :)

I drove by the NCAA site yesterday for the first time. Will be interesting to see the final product.

I was just implying if you could relocate or beautify an area/building or modernize it, I think going forward instead of backward is quite a positive for a city. "Grit and Gritty" seem to be very weird adjectives to me, does that mean dirty? "a piece of sandstone?" I feel its a little more industrial, I just don't like seeing a building/"factory" that looks as if it could explode. That is not presentable for a city that wants a world class "image." Sterile makes zero sense as well.

The plant should be upgraded. Wish condos could be made out of it, or clean it up abit. Sterile, not sure...

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/fashionking615muah/103_0853.jpg

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http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/fashionking615muah/103_0863.jpg

Nice! Thanks for the leg work!

As for adding grit to the city, I would have to disagree. I hate that look. I just want a city that look like Dubai. Cleam, pretty and cool ass buildings with lots of colors and lights. I can see it now. People walking into their $300 a night hotel room at the new J.W., opening their curtains, seeing a beautiful view of the city, Victory Field and the awesome new and gigantic Colts stadium. But wait, what is that 10 story garbage dumb with steam coming of it. Oh, its the old broken down steam plant that the city will never do anything to it. Like I said above, it's a real eye-sore to me

aavmarine, you are dreaming of a world where we all make the kind of money to spend it on $300 a night hotel rooms...

The world doesnt work that way and while a company may pay for someone to stay a couple nights in an expensive room, the rest of us live in this world where we all have to figure out how to pay our bills and still leave enough to make improvements.

Leave the steam plant. This city has torn down so many other things that define it's past.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/fashionking615muah/103_0899.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/fashionking615muah/103_0900.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvGbbvAkMI/AAAAAAAAEy4/s6vEZIKFBkA/s640/photo%201.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvGcjhpY_I/AAAAAAAAEzM/r0pQUbf5_aY/s640/photo%205.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvFZlCj3ZI/AAAAAAAAEyQ/0LSNB3IY4wg/s640/photo%205.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvFYW9viKI/AAAAAAAAEyE/a7hvXWXHXd0/s640/photo%203.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvFYggknEI/AAAAAAAAEyM/Pz01x2gw8XA/s640/photo%204.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvF7Dq-PKI/AAAAAAAAEyo/tk3_Oryvp2A/s640/photo%204.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvF6abR3kI/AAAAAAAAEyc/TrFQ9mCelX4/s640/photo%202.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvGcJJw56I/AAAAAAAAEzI/5tt-iEjLLFM/s640/photo%204.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvFXoHKCRI/AAAAAAAAEx8/8MBmjXhBu4Y/s640/photo%201.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvFXwb3fzI/AAAAAAAAEyA/4WdY6p7f00w/s640/photo%202.JPG

Who is the site mod? This thread is way past due to be changed to U/C...

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TKvGbbvAkMI/AAAAAAAAEy4/s6vEZIKFBkA/s640/photo%201.JPG


Colors in these are sick homie!

Great Pics!...That first one is just brilliant with the contrast of the JW and the NCAA.The area around the NCAA has changed a lot in just a couple months. The one thing I am digging with the JW is the reflections..esp towards the evening hours...I even love it at night with the sporadic rooms lit..

Eddie, did you get a new camera? These are much nicer (quality) than those youve posted in the past

original iPhone v. iPhone 4 HDR....

Great to see that they've proposed building this expansion to the NCAA headquarters! Hopefully they'll get started on it soon.

(a-hem ---- this sarcasm is directed at you, site moderators.)

They've started putting the glass on the south side of the building now. The angled entrance plaza (or whatever you want to call the lower portion of the structure that juts out from the south side of the main building at an angle) sure adds an interesting look to the structure when you look at the building from the SE -- ie. from the curve in Washington St. as it passes between the JW Marriott complex and the visitors center at WRSP. It looks more blocky and angular from that viewpoint instead of just rectangular as it looks when you view it straight on from the north.

Also -- hopefully they're getting ready to do some serious landscaping on the back side of the JWMarriott complex - behind its west side. It looks like they are grading the ground where the construction trailers used to sit. That area is just a large, flat, gravel strewn lot right now -- but hopefully it will soon be a nice, contoured, green, grassy and tree filled area. I haven't seen any plans for this -- but it undoubtedly can't stay the way it currently looks. Hopefully they'll plant lots of trees that grow quickly and - some decade from now - they may begin to block at least part of the ugly view of the bland west side of the convention hall portion of the complex. We'll see.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TXbTaKWvh5I/AAAAAAAAE68/UvhSx7OF_4U/s1000/photo%201.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TXbTbc0oocI/AAAAAAAAE68/gG-Qo2jbHyQ/s1000/photo%203.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TXbTcBnQ1gI/AAAAAAAAE68/vm5XkEEzblg/s1000/photo%204.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TXbTcro4b-I/AAAAAAAAE68/soeU99Fcgj8/s1000/photo%205.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_weBy68KZy-I/TXbTjio4uDI/AAAAAAAAE68/eiRaHEmB6n0/s1000/photo.JPG

I always seem to forget about this getting built. It is quite a contrast in style from the other buildings in the NCAA campus. Looks good, thanks for sharing the photos.

Took these the other day.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5692689227_93ef798ec2_z.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5692685651_6eb5cd5f52_z.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b177/fashionking615muah/DSC00081.jpg

Thanks. Its hard to tell from the pictures -- but the new light brown "tiles" that are going up look pretty cool. They match the color of the light brick from the adjacent NCAA Building 1, but are a different style - that fits with the modern look of Building 2.

Does anyone know whats going on that large brown lot in the last picture? That is one very large open area!

It is where the old tennis center was. I have not heard what the university plans on doing with it... but if you look at the middle of the first page you might get some hints from the areal view renders of the basic idea of what they might put there.

Man this is looking good now. I rode by on my bike tonight - on the south side facing the river. As the shorter entrance part of the building gets closer and closer to completion, it is really doing a great job of pulling the whole NCAA complex together very nicely. I wish I had a picture to show -- but, if you get a chance to look at it from the south side - it is really looking good. I like the colors and types of materials. Also, the angles of the different parts of the buildings - honoring the angle of the old national road corridor as well as the nearby grid of the Mile Square. The colors seem very earthy and fit well with the site - which has a partial urban and partial green / rural feel - because of its location fronting the open green of the park as well as the sometimes blue, sometimes brown (depending on the light and sky color) river below. This all might be a little difficult to understand from my description --- I just know that I think it looks very good. Maybe some of the "architecture experts" can add their thoughts after seeing it as well -- to explain the various elements that are being pulled together as this project is nearing completion. Nice project!!