INDIANAPOLIS — With the backing of state and city officials, Purdue University marked a major milestone this week by breaking ground on its Academic Success Building — a transformative facility that will anchor the university’s growing footprint in downtown Indianapolis.

The ceremonial groundbreaking took place Wednesday (April 2) at the Indiana Historical Society, situated just across the street from the construction site at the intersection of Michigan and West streets. The 248,000-square-foot redbrick facility will serve as the epicenter for Purdue’s operations in the capital city and symbolizes a bold step toward expanding academic and innovation infrastructure in central Indiana.

“Today we are writing history together,” Purdue President Mung Chiang told attendees. “Today is a day of appreciation: to the leaders of our state and the business and civic communities. Today is a day of commitment: Boilermakers bringing the totality of Purdue to the totality of Indianapolis. Today is a day of stability and growth, as Purdue advances excellence at scale with affordability; co-creates jobs, workforce and innovation; and builds out America’s Hard-Tech Corridor between Indianapolis and West Lafayette.”

The event drew prominent state leaders including Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, House Speaker Todd Huston, and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner — all of whom praised Purdue’s commitment to enhancing educational access and driving innovation statewide.

“Bringing your university to this city as a stand-alone is what our state is about,” Gov. Braun said. “You are going to make it logistically easier for our own kids to be able to get one of the best educations you can get anywhere in the world, not just the U.S. This is going to be one of the mechanisms of how we keep our own kids in our own state, and the more we do that, the better it is going to be for everyone else.”

Slated for completion in May 2027, the 15-story structure will include academic classrooms, research labs, dining facilities, housing for Purdue faculty, staff and students, and collaborative space for community organizations and local high schools. Designed to reflect Purdue’s classic architectural identity, the facility is also built with adaptability in mind — able to evolve with future educational trends and hands-on learning experiences.

“The building is going to change the landscape not only because of the appearance, but it is going to be a testimony to the state of Indiana and what it represents: It is a towering example of how innovative education should be done today,” said Gary Lehman, chairman of Purdue’s Board of Trustees. “It will be the heartbeat for the Purdue presence in Indianapolis.”

The building also represents the next major step following the split of Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) into separate institutions. Officially launched in July 2023, Purdue University in Indianapolis has already begun establishing itself as a distinct academic force in the region.

In addition to the new building, Purdue has launched or is planning several satellite initiatives across the city. These include:

• Purdue Motorsports and Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center in Speedway.
• Accessible Precision Audiology Research Center and Manufacturing and Materials Research Labs at 16 Tech Innovation District.
• Mitch Daniels School of Business Executive Education programs at High Alpha in the Bottleworks District.
• A forthcoming One Health Innovation District near the future Elanco global headquarters.

With each expansion, Purdue is delivering its signature focus on STEM education, innovation, and industry alignment into the heart of Indiana.

Learn more about Purdue University in Indianapolis at https://www.purdue.edu/indianapolis

Originally reported by Derek Schultz in Purdue University News.