Indiana Tower

Indiana Tower was the proposed centerpiece of White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. Designed by César Pelli in 1980, the plan was ultimately scrapped.

Indiana Tower
Indiana Tower, proposed centerpiece of White River State Park
General information
StatusNever built
TypeObservation Tower
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana, USA
Coordinates39.767406°N 86.172033°W / 39.767406; -86.172033
OwnerState of Indiana
Height
Roof750 ft (230 m)
Design and construction
ArchitectCésar Pelli

Proposal

As part of the downtown revitalization campaign for Indianapolis, the state solicited designs for a distinctive piece of skyline architecture in the tradition of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis or the Space Needle in Seattle. The Pelli tower was to be located in the new Indiana Landing area of Indianapolis (which later became White River State Park). The Pelli design called for an obelisk 750 feet (230 m) tall, with a diameter of 130 feet (40 m) at the base and 64 feet (20 m) at the peak that would "establish the Crossroads of America". As such, the design would have been taller than the Arch, the Washington Monument, and the Statue of Liberty. The proposed $25 million included the rerouting of West Washington Street to the south so that the tower could be placed on the east bank of the White River where the street had crossed the river.[1]

Failure

The design was met with little local support. Some residents feared it too closely resembled a corncob, which would further the stereotype of Indiana as wholly rural. Others believed the bold nature of the design would overshadow the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, which had been the historic focal point of the city's design. The park took shape and thrived without its vertical landmark. However, following the success of the rest of the revitalization campaign, there have been renewed calls for construction of the tower. Pelli himself remained fond of the design, insisting that if the opportunity to make the project a reality materialized, he would have done it.

References
  1. Mitchell, Dawn (January 26, 2018). "Indiana Tower: The 750-foot spire that never was". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.