Indiana Tower
Encyclopedia
Indiana Tower was the proposed centerpiece of White River State Park
in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. Designed by César Pelli
in 1980, the plan was ultimately scrapped.
campaign for Indianapolis, the state solicited designs for a distinctive piece of skyline architecture in the tradition of the Gateway Arch
in St. Louis or the Space Needle
in Seattle. The Pelli tower would be located in the new Indiana Landing area of Indianapolis (which became White River State Park). The Pelli design called for an obelisk
750 feet tall, with a diameter of 130 feet at the base and 64 feet at the peak that would "establish the Crossroads of America". As such, the design would have been taller than the Arch, the Washington Monument
, and the Statue of Liberty
, and would have cost $25 million in 1980.
, which would further the stereotype of Indiana as wholly rural. Others believed the bold nature of the design would overshadow the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
, which had been the historic focal point of the city's design. The park took shape and thrived without its vertical landmark. However, following the success of the rest of the revitalization campaign, there have been renewed calls for construction of the tower. Pelli himself remains fond of the design, insisting that if the opportunity to make the project a reality materialized, he'd "jump at it, of course."
White River State Park
White River State ParkDesignationState ParkLocationIndianapolis, Indiana USANearest CityIndianapolis, IndianaArea Date of Establishment1979Governing Body...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Designed by César Pelli
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
in 1980, the plan was ultimately scrapped.
Proposal
As part of the downtown revitalizationUrban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
campaign for Indianapolis, the state solicited designs for a distinctive piece of skyline architecture in the tradition of the Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States...
in St. Louis or the Space Needle
Space Needle
The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over...
in Seattle. The Pelli tower would be located in the new Indiana Landing area of Indianapolis (which became White River State Park). The Pelli design called for an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
750 feet tall, with a diameter of 130 feet at the base and 64 feet at the peak that would "establish the Crossroads of America". As such, the design would have been taller than the Arch, the Washington Monument
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
, and the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
, and would have cost $25 million in 1980.
Failure
The design was met with little local support. Some residents feared it too closely resembled a corncobCorncob
A corncob is the central core of a maize ear.The corn plant's ear is also considered a "cob" or "pole" but it is not fully a "pole" until the ear is shucked, or removed from the plant material around the ear...
, which would further the stereotype of Indiana as wholly rural. Others believed the bold nature of the design would overshadow the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Indianapolis)
The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is a tall neoclassical monument in the center of Indianapolis, Indiana that was designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz and completed in 1901....
, which had been the historic focal point of the city's design. The park took shape and thrived without its vertical landmark. However, following the success of the rest of the revitalization campaign, there have been renewed calls for construction of the tower. Pelli himself remains fond of the design, insisting that if the opportunity to make the project a reality materialized, he'd "jump at it, of course."