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Construction has begun on a $60 million expansion project that will bring more laboratory and research spaces to the Science and Engineering Lab building at Indiana University Indianapolis, school officials announced Tuesday.
The 52,000-square-foot addition near North Blackford and West New York streets will feature state-of-the-art laboratory and research spaces, as well as a 3-D bioprinter lab and support for development of wearable devices and sensors, as well as health-monitoring systems.
It will also feature optics labs, as well as advanced computational and wet labs, IU officials said.
The addition and the existing lab building will collectively be known as the STEM Lab Building upon the project’s completion ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year. While state funding for the project was finalized in June 2024, ground was broken on the project just this week.
“We’re just thrilled that we’re finally breaking ground … and even though the building is not going to open until the fall of 2026, there’s a lot to plan before that,” said Phaedra Corso, associate vice president and vice chancellor for research at IU Indianapolis. “It’s a long process, but it’s very rewarding. It’s also interdisciplinary, so we’ve had lots of strong researchers from across campus who’ve been engaged in the design process.”
When it opens, the building will be home to the Convergent Bioscience and Technology Institute and the Institute for Human Health and Wellbeing. Both initiatives are part of a larger, $250 million investment focused on establishing the university as a leader in bioscience innovation. The building will also house the IU Indianapolis Arts and Humanities Institute and will be run by IU Research.
IU Indianapolis was certified in February as a Research 1 institution, a designation given to universities with $50 million in research and development expenditures that award at least 70 doctoral degrees in any field in a year.
In written remarks, IU Indianapolis Chancellor Latha Ramchand said the institution takes its ranking as an R1 university seriously, “by translating research into impact that makes a difference in the lives of Hoosiers across the state and people around the world.”
Corso said the expansion is just one example of the continued investments IU is making into research components at its Indianapolis campus, which formally split from Purdue University last July.
The university also plans to make investment in other research and science facilities, including improvements to three dozen lab spaces used by the chemistry, biology, physics and earth, and environmental sciences departments. Those improvements will include overhauls to the labs themselves through new technologies and equipment, as well as infrastructure upgrades, including replacement mechanical, electrical, plumbing and air exchange systems.
The STEM Lab Building is near the James T. Morris Arena under construction on the IU Indianapolis campus, which Corso said may prove beneficial for research focused on sports and exercise. The arena will be open by the end of 2026.
“The science building [expansion] is just a testament to what we’ve been doing and what we want to continue to do in the interdisciplinary research space,” she said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve built new research labs or or have upgraded our labs here on our campus. As technology advances, as science advances, it’s important for us to make sure that our labs are cutting edge. So, I think the timing here is really perfect.”
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No strong feelings whatsoever, but if the emphasis was on creating a box that maximizes function and utility, then I’m guessing they nailed it. Certainly blends in with the unadorned institutional style of the rest the campus. And, too it’s credit, definitely more attractive than some of the other parking garages. A master class in the confidence of feeling that you don’t need to impress anyone. Hopefully, it comes in under budget.
Who is the architect?
When I first read your comment I wasn’t sure what point you were trying to make. Then I read I continued reading and I agree the design isn’t that creative or appealing. The city as a whole lacks exciting, modern architecture. I often view videos of amazing cities in China on YouTube. Indy should get inspiration from our Asian friends and build a few eye catching buildings for once.
I can’t wait to have my picnic lunch on that patch of ornamental grass and bask in the beauty of place. But seriously, what that “green space” really says is, “we only had $40 left in the budget, but at least we’re meeting the suburban zoning setback requirement.”