First look: Purdue’s new Academic Success Building in Indianapolis

Academic Success Building rendering, Purdue University (photo attached)

INDIANAPOLIS — Conceptual renderings of Purdue’s new Academic Success Building in Indianapolis were released Wednesday (Jan. 15), bringing a uniquely Purdue look to the Circle City.

Approved by the Purdue University Board of Trustees in June, the 248,000-square-foot red brick building, to be located near the intersection of West and Michigan streets, will be the first centerpiece of Purdue’s urban expansion, providing classrooms, laboratories, dining and housing , as well as space for community and local high schools to use.

The groundbreaking facility will deliver innovative programs for career-ready Purdue students and focus on academic success right in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, with the ability to evolve with the demands of experiential education. The architecture captures both the look and feel of Purdue University while considering collaborative connections to nearby Indiana Avenue.

The 15-story Academic Success Building will add to the capital’s growing Boilermaker footprint, which includes five academic buildings near the facility’s planned site. Purdue has already established presences throughout Indianapolis, including the Purdue Motorsports and Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center housed at Dallara’s U.S. headquarters in Speedway; the accessible Precision Audiology Research Center and manufacturing and materials research laboratories in the 16 Tech Innovation District; Mitch Daniels School of Business Executive Education programs at High Alpha in the Bottleworks District; and the planned One Health Innovation District near the future Elanco global headquarters on the western edge of the White River.

The initial renderings of the Academic Success Building are subject to change in the final design. Construction is scheduled to begin in April 2025 and be completed in May 2027.

About Purdue University in Indianapolis

Purdue University in Indianapolis is a fully integrated extension of West Lafayette that extends into central Indiana with the academic rigor and accessible excellence for which Purdue is known. As the state’s only top 10 public university, most trusted university and most innovative university, Purdue is focused and committed to strengthening its presence in Indiana’s industrial and technology hub. Purdue University at Indianapolis creates an innovative, STEM-based collegiate experience by connecting future-ready Purdue students and faculty in Indianapolis to local companies to accelerate Indiana’s STEM pipeline and technology ecosystem, advancing the impact for our region and the world. Learn more at