Type: Adaptive use, mixed use
Developer: Hendricks Commercial Properties
Owner: Bottleworks Districts LLC
Designers: RATIO Design; EUA
Site Size: 11.86 acres (4.8 ha)
Date Opened: December 1, 2020
Date Completed: December 1, 2020
Buildings: 216,980 square feet (20,158 sq m)
Parking: 185,980 square feet (17,278 sq m)
Open Space: 113,660 square feet (10,559 sq m)
The transformation of Indianapolis’ historic Coca-Cola bottling plant into the Bottleworks District represents one of Indiana’s most ambitious adaptive use projects. Built in the early 1930s by the Yuncker brothers and expanded over the next two decades, the facility once held the title as the world’s largest bottling plant, producing more than 2.2 million bottles each week. The plant’s distinctive Art Deco buildings were clad in glazed white terracotta, the largest terracotta facades in the state.
The rise of aluminum cans in the 1960s led the bottling facility to close. Indianapolis Public Schools purchased the property in 1968 and used it for administrative, maintenance, and warehousing purposes for nearly half a century. In 2017, Hendricks Commercial Properties acquired the site, envisioning its transformation into a mixed-use district that would honor its architectural heritage while meeting contemporary needs.
The $300 million-plus development’s first phase, completed in 2020, converted the former bottling plant into a 139-room boutique hotel and transformed three maintenance garages into event venues and a 38,000-square-foot (3,530 sq m) food hall with local merchants and chef-driven vendors. The development team restored the building’s facades, complete with original Art Deco details such as friezes depicting coca beans, sugar cane, fountains, and tropical birds. The project also added office space, a parking garage, and an eight-screen cinema.
By reopening Carrollton Avenue and 9th Street to the public after more than 50 years of closure, the redevelopment re-established the neighborhood’s street network and reconnected long-isolated neighborhoods to Massachusetts Avenue’s amenities. The rebuilt streets feature high-quality brick pavers, pedestrian-friendly alleyways, and welcoming plazas.
The hotel, which attracts visitors who have read about the unique property in such publications as Time, National Geographic, and Condé Nast Traveler, frequently sells out. The district hosts major parties and events, many organized around NCAA, NBA, NFL, and Indy 500 games and tournaments. Its popularity has led to additional development within the district, including 250,000 square feet (23,225 sq m) of office and retail space under construction—the city’s strongest office submarket, with top-tier rents and significant preleasing activity.
Bottleworks has also sparked investment and development in nearby neighborhoods, which have added hundreds of new residences to Indianapolis’ urban core. City government has supported this growth by connecting the district to emerging neighborhoods with bike paths, public transportation, and improved infrastructure. The project’s achievements have earned numerous accolades, including the Indiana Landmarks’ 2023 Cook Cup for Outstanding Restoration and top honors from the 2022 ICSC Global Design & Development Awards, establishing it as a model for historic preservation and adaptive use in urban development.
To learn more about ULI’s Awards for Excellent or to enter your project for consideration:
- The ULI Americas Awards for Excellence recognize outstanding development projects in North and South America.
- The ULI Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence recognize outstanding development projects in the Asia Pacific region.
- The ULI Europe Awards for Excellence recognize outstanding development projects in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
Information about how to serve as a juror for the ULI Awards for Excellence:
The ULI Awards Jury Experience: Identifying and Elevating Excellence in Real Estate and Land Use
