Animation of Marriott Place

March 27, 2009
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The developers of a new convention hotel complex plan to brand the four new hotels and existing Marriott Indianapolis as Marriott Place Indianapolis. The 2,200-room complex will be anchored by the 1,005-room, 34-story JW Marriott. All the hotels are slated to be open by February 2011. Thoughts?
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  • Purdue FanMarch 27, 2009 2:41 PM
    Anybody notice and find humorous the guy's desktop at the very end of the video with his 3 kids on the lake/river? It shows on the HQ video version....
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  • roberthMarch 27, 2009 4:37 PM
    Please can someone redo the power plant to the south. This is such an eyesore especially now with all the development moving in that direction. Not going to look good at the Super Bowl city views. Some creative architects may know how to screen all that crap into a more pleasant structure. Maybe the city should ask CTE to pursue this.
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  • thundermuttMarch 27, 2009 5:36 PM
    All that crap is one of downtown's competitive advantages. And heating something as big as Lucas Oil Stadium is relatively cheap for that reason.

    The district steam-loop system is the second-largest in the country after NYC.
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  • JGMarch 27, 2009 8:41 PM
    Thundermutt: I never realized INDY had a steam heat system. I wonder how this compares to natural gas in terms of cost and environmental impact? I suspect it's cheaper but also somewhat more polluting. I am so used to that power plant that I would miss it if it was not there. It's part of the skyline - and it's a relic of our more industrial past. However, I do understand not all feel this way, and one day it will be inevitably removed.

    BTW: This animation is really crummy... I fee like I know less about the project and I hope the architects release better animations soon.
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  • SwimINindyMarch 28, 2009 2:24 AM
    I forget where i heard this, and don't quote me, But I believe Indy is second only to New York City in terms of the size of the Steam Heat System.
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  • KanyeMarch 28, 2009 5:30 AM
    Indy is SOOOOOO lucky we got this in before the second coming of the depression hit.
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  • IndymanMarch 28, 2009 10:22 AM
    Not only does the system provide steam heat, but also air conditioning (chilled water) to most of the downtown and IUPUI. Remember how much trouble was caused when the Marriott crews hit one of the main lines? Steam is much cheaper than any other source, and most of our steam is generated at the trash burner down on Raymond St.

    Some of you guys need to get out more. One of the most interesting museums in London is the Tate Modern which is on the Thames. It is in an old electrical generating plant. It is very industrial and gets high marks for being so. The old IPL plant (now Citizens Thermal) that some do not like is a great example of Art Deco with very good terra cotta detailing. I hope when it eventually is decommissioned, it is turned into something unique, like a reception hall, gallery or some such building. In addition, the Diamond Chain factory on Kentucky is another great art deco building. I am afraid it will get town down, but it would make great condos (like the Glove Factory )with views to the north and east of downtown and to the west and south of the White River.
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  • NickMarch 28, 2009 12:53 PM
    Thank you, Indyman. Ever since the Tate Modern opend in London, I've thought the exact same thing about that building. It would be a great addition to downtown when it is ever decommissioned.

    As for the animation, yeah, it is a little lacking, but have to say I like the idea of them marketing the entire complex and older hotel as Marriott Place. It makes a lot of sense.
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  • JGMarch 28, 2009 1:22 PM
    Indyman/Nick: Good idea regarding the Citizens Thermal plant once it is decomissioned. I actaully feel that Lucas Oil Stadium was somewhat designed to compliment that structure, and it would be great for the city or state to come up with a civic or residential use.
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  • sfjffMarch 28, 2009 2:09 PM
    I'm not against the plant, architectually, but is it the source of the stink that plagues downtown and the near southside? Often when I'm downtown I feel like the top layer of my skin is being burnt off, and I suspect that the plant is the source.
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  • CreamCrimsonMarch 29, 2009 8:21 PM
    I agree, the Power Plant could so easily be amended to not look at all like a Power Plant. you could wall around the stacks. Or ideally, NOT HAVE THE POWER PLANT IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR DOWNTOWN, for starters.

    If they move it, Baltimore did a really cool job of turning their downtown Power Plant into a mix use building. It has a Power Plant look, but refurbished everything else, a really cool, classic redevelopment. Put some Bars, Restaurants, Shops, and I think a Hard Rock in their Old Power Plant, right on the Inner Harbor too. Looks just like Indy's.

    http://www.powerplantlive.com/
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  • indymanMarch 30, 2009 8:12 AM
    Depends on which smell you are talking about. Typically the fermenting frain/chocolate smell is National Starch on Raymond Street. Sometimes an odd chemical smell is Lilly's. I doubt any of the smells you are talking about is from the power plant.

    There has been a power plant on this site for over 100 years. It is a part of downtown. To try to cover it up would be a bad move. We need to embrace the industrial look of it. That is actually pretty hip right now. Like lofts with exposed brick and pipe work. Besides, I doubt Citizens Thermal wants to spend millions to move the plant just because some people thik it looks bad in some pics of the City.
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  • EnthralledMarch 30, 2009 10:03 AM
    CreamCrimson - I agree that Baltimore (and specifically Cordish - the same company that developed Indiana Live by the way) did a great job on the Power Plant in Balto. The problem is, it went through at least three other attempts and about 20 years before it got to what it is today and came very close to getting torn down more than once. All of this said, Citizens is going nowhere for a loooong time, so get used to the power plant in full operation.
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  • CoryWMarch 30, 2009 12:46 PM
    I have visited Tate Modern, but had never put its reuse into consideration here in the Cirlce City...and I agree, I think the power plant adds to a lack of grit in DT Indy and should never come down.
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  • BLOGojevichMarch 30, 2009 1:15 PM
    Indyman, I'd be in favor of putting a checkerboard fascade on the power plant and turning it into the world's largest Buffalo Wildwings. Or maybe Kosene could covert it into some cheaply built, overpriced condos...
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  • MikeWMarch 30, 2009 1:58 PM
    Could we add the world's largest spiral slide that goes down trhe smokestack, and they can ride the coal conveyor built up to the top of it. I would pay 4 dollars for that!

    Cory - I think we've gotten bored with this post - a new one might be in order! lol
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  • DDMarch 30, 2009 4:16 PM
    is this video any longer??
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  • indymanMarch 30, 2009 5:33 PM
    Mike W.,

    That is just short of genius. Heck, you already have the spiral stairs up the outside of the stack, just put a slide on those. If that does not work, lets go with the worlds largest outside stairmaster. A couple of trips up those steps would take care of cellulite. Although a semi serious idea would be to put a large platform at the top of the stack and use it for an observation platform. What a great view of downtown from that spot.
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  • parkershadeMarch 30, 2009 11:33 PM
    As for the hotel video -- now that was awesome stuff. Any more like that ?

    As for the steam plant -- it IS gawd-awful ugly, but it sure is energy efficient, green-friendly, and makes a buttload of money. What's a chamber of commerce to do?

    It's not going anywhere anytime fast. So how's this for an idea: paint multi-colored towers and light 'em up at night. There's no way to avoid them, so make it interesting....give 'em something to talk about!
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  • caliboy28March 31, 2009 10:29 AM
    parkershade, that's actually a great idea! I, like others, don't really mind the plant where it is - I appreciate it's industrial coolness. Why NOT highlight it by painting the towers in multiple hues and lighting it at night? What a cool picture that would paint on the evening skyline, especially during those national TV money shots during sporting events and such
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  • neindyguyApril 1, 2009 11:16 AM
    I submitted an idea to the Peterson administration a couple of years ago to sponsor an artist contest to see who could come up with the best design for the plant's exterior. I suggested the possibility of converting the towers into giant baseball bats in deference to Victory Field. They said they would take my suggestion into advisement... I never heard back from them.
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  • Tiger84April 1, 2009 1:53 PM
    I hate these walk-throughs, especially when they show the least comprehensive dynamic of the structures. I am sure the hotel will be very cool and all, but the drive-in and the lobby? Come on! This is just poor planning and execution of what should be a powerful introduction to the facility. To prove my point, all the above posts deal with the power plant and not the hotel. The lobby looks like the entrance to a post office and the drive through is so compelling that I looked forward to the guy's desktop photo at the end of the clip. Do a better job or get out of the way.
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  • E.April 3, 2009 12:28 AM
    Can't we write to the owner of the plant and ask them?
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  • indymanApril 3, 2009 8:52 AM
    I do not see why not, the owner is Citizens Thermal which is a division of Citizens Gas or Energy or whatever their new name is. I bet the answer you get back will be cost. I would bet the cost would be 6 figures at least, and probably have to be done every few years. Since those stacks are metal, they will expand and contract with the weather causing issues with paint sticking. Add to it the fact they they are still in use, on a cold day, they could go from 10 degrees to over 100 within an hour. I doubt they would be willing to spend that kind of money.
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