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Officials at 16 Tech on Wednesday unveiled the design for a “centerpiece” bridge planned for the innovation district that they say is both pedestrian-friendly and architecturally unique.
Plans call for the bridge to span Fall Creek from 10th Street and Riley Hospital Drive into 16 Tech, a 50-acre development on the northwest edge of downtown. The bridge is expected to be completed in late 2023 or early 2024.
The overall project, which includes the bridge and related road work, has an estimated $20 million-plus price tag.
A design team led by Germany-based engineering firm Schlaich Bergermann Partner, or SBP; and New York City-based Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, or PAU, created the design in partnership with six other firms, including four from Indianapolis. Designers received input from local residents and civic leaders. The design team was announced late last year.
“The design team combined engineering, design thinking and thoughtful community engagement to create a truly iconic and inclusive centerpiece for Indianapolis,” said project lead Emily Krueger. Krueger is also chief operating officer at 16 Tech Community Corp., the not-for-profit organization that is guiding the development of the 16 Tech campus.
The structure is designed with three separated lanes: one for cars, one for bicyclists and one for pedestrians. The bike and pedestrian lanes will be protected. In total, 56% of the bridge’s square footage will be devoted to bicyclists and pedestrians, with the remaining 44% reserved for motor vehicle use.
“Positioned at the nexus of Indianapolis’ trail network, the 16 Tech bridge will be the first in Marion County intentionally designed with a majority of its surface area dedicated to multimodal users,” Indianapolis Department of Public Works Director Dan Parker said in a written statement issued by the 16 Tech Community Corp.
In the statement, 16 Tech Community Corp. describes the bridge design as a “reinterpretation of a classic suspension bridge to create an entirely new form” that the group says will be the first of its kind in the country. The bridge’s innovation comes in the wave-like form of the bridge’s structure, which is meant to mimic the features of Fall Creek and the trees that line its banks.
Design details will be refined in coming months, with continuing input from local residents. People can learn more about the project at 16 Tech’s next quarterly community update, which takes place online at 9 a.m. Friday. Interested participants can register here.
Design and construction of the bridge are being funded by the city of Indianapolis and from a portion of a $38 million grant that Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded 16 Tech in 2018.
In addition to SBP and PAU, the other firms on the design team include:
- Moniteurs Communication Design of Berlin, Germany;
- Martha Schwartz Partners of New York City;
- Shrewsberry and Associates of Indianapolis;
- CTL Engineering of Indianapolis;
- Circle Design Group of Indianapolis; and
- People for Urban Progress, or PUP, of Indianapolis.
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The article does not say explicitly where the new bridge connects with the 16 Tech campus on the on the north side of Fall Creek, but it would appear that will be at Waterway Boulevard. Because the bridge features, according to the article, only one lane dedicated to vehicular traffic, are we to presume Waterway Boulevard will be a one-way street? Clarification please…
It’ll be a new street as part of the development. Check out
https://16tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/16Tech_RptMPUpdate_LOW-RES-PUBLIC-03.22.2020.pdf
Underwhelming to say the least.
Sounds like this guy should have been the lead designer on the project.
I wonder if you can ride a bike over the top of the curves like a rollercoaster?
I expect those will have to be topped with razor wire to prevent that…
It’s attractive, to be sure. But $20M for a bridge that will see light traffic? And, um…. why on earth do they need eight, YES 8, design firms involved. Any why give the prime contracts to German and NY-based firms. Keep the spending local!
Local talent is underwhelming. Just look at our apartment buildings.
Adam isn’t wrong. Largely due to Ball State’s lacking CAP programs.
Transitory inflation!
You can see from the rendering that there’s a bump out in the middle of the bridge, allowing pedestrians to get out of the flow of other pedestrians and look out over the creek. Nice touch.
First of it’s kind? What a flair for the dramatic lol. There’s nothing new under the sun folks.
I swear Hoosiers will criticize anything the city tries to do to make the place better. It’s clear that most people’s perception of style and what’s makes a great city is based on what the like and see in other cities. I personally feels what makes a city great is its ability to stand out and be unique from all the other cities you can visit. Why would Indy wanna look like other places? This bridge is just as nice and modern as you’ll find anywhere in the country.
The city is transforming right in front of your eyes. Keep watching! The future has arrived!!!!! Like it or not!!!!! So fux it!!!,,let’s Go!!!
I wonder if one good strike with a car on the vertical fins is going to compromise the load bearing structure of the bridge?
What’s going to happen to the existing SerVaas pedestrian bridge that’s only 200 feet away? Isn’t this a little bit redundant?