IU Indianapolis is breaking ground with a cutting-edge $110 million Athletics Center, a pivotal addition to the downtown campus, which is expected to be a game-changer for the community and foster school spirit.
Located just south of the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hall, near the IU Natatorium, this athletic center will embody IU’s commitment to providing a space that will serve the campus and its community with a state-of-the-art facility. Scheduled for completion in the fall of 2026, this innovative facility promises to be a hub for sports, recreation, and Indiana pride.
The Indiana University Board of Trustees voted on November 15, 2024, to name the athletics center the James T. Morris Arena. This decision was made in honor of the late James T. Morris, a distinguished alumnus and longtime trustee of IU. Morris’s wife and sons were in attendance at the meeting underscoring his influence at Indiana University. James, who held numerous prestigious awards including the Sachem Award from Governor Holcomb in 2021 and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama in 2016.
Despite the five-year rule in honorary naming, an exception was made in Morris’s case due to his impact on the Indiana community. This athletics center would serve as his legacy.
This unique configuration maintains a 360-degree view for an immersive experience. Constructed with an exterior of limestone and metal, the building creates an inviting aesthetic. The eye-catching western elevation emphasized by sun control is included on the expansive glass windows, enhancing the building's visual appeal while ensuring a comfortable experience for office users.
The Athletics Center’s design combines modern architecture and practical functionality. It will feature retractable seating to increase floor space, providing versatility for various events. It also showcases a seating bowl in a single-rake format that boasts the arena with a uniform upward slope enabling 4,100 seats with room to expand for special events accommodating nearly 5,000 attendees in total.
IU is also celebrating its latest partnership with USA Track and Field, which has chosen the new Athletics Center for its Indianapolis offices, affirming the facility’s national prestige. This collaboration is expected to increase IU’s visibility on a global scale, attracting sports enthusiasts and industry leaders to the center.
Community involvement is also central to the center’s mission, and IU envisions the facility becoming a focal point for downtown engagement. Through high schools and other community events, the venue will open its doors to the Indianapolis public, inviting fans, alumni, and residents to celebrate and connect with IU athletics.
“Our goal is to win in the community and the classroom, whether it may be on the field or in the pool. We want to maintain our student-athlete status within the Indianapolis community,” said IU Athletics Director Luke Bosso.
Bosso, who sees the Athletics Center as a bridge between IU and the local community, shared his vision for how the new facility will strengthen IU’s footprint in Indianapolis.
“It is more than just a sports center, it's a place that the people of Indianapolis can call ours,” Bosso said.
The project's goal is to achieve the highest participation of any initiative in the university’s history, emphasizing inclusivity and broad community involvement. The Athletics Center’s development is not IU’s only investment in Indianapolis. In a recent design approval meeting, IU announced plans to repurpose and reallocate properties for greater economic and community benefit.
One of the property surplus initiatives is the Riley Children’s Hospital which will operate on the lower level of the facility, providing a dedicated space and creating a unique partnership that melds health, fitness, and community outreach within a single location. This kind of partnership reflects the desire to address community needs by integrating healthcare into athletic and recreational activities.
This innovative design and community-focused initiatives promise to make this Athletics Center a landmark in Indianapolis, fostering a strong connection between IU and the city’s residents. As plans continue to integrate, the anticipation grows for what will be a transformative addition to the city’s landscape.
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