Projects
Today, the vitality of Midtown Indianapolis and Butler University are inextricably linked, and over the past decade more than $550 million of combined investment have resulted in a Midtown renaissance that has provided transformational growth for both. As Butler looks forward to another decade of growth and transformation, the Gateway Project provides a vision for another $500 million in investment in projects that serve both Butler AND the community in which it lives.
This page includes upcoming and potential future projects. The majority of the illustrations below are conceptual and not actual project renderings. This page will be updated as plans evolve over time.
Upcoming Projects
Founder’s College
Opening in fall 2025, Founder’s College at Butler University offers affordable, career-focused two-year associate degree programs for Central Indiana students with financial need.
Jay and Christie Kile Love University House
Butler has received a gift from Jay and Christie Kile Love to fund the construction of a new University House. It will serve as both a prominent, inviting venue for hosting fundraising and other community events and a home for future Butler presidents.
Ross Hall Hotel
Through a partnership with Curio Collection by Hilton, Butler’s Ross Hall will be transformed into a boutique hotel. This hotel will include over 100 rooms and offers a full suite of amenities including a restaurant and meeting spaces.
Safety and Transit Hub
Butler plans to develop a new Safety and Transit Hub that includes new parking spaces; a commuter hub servicing pedestrians and cyclists; and a new, expanded headquarters for Butler University Police Department (BUPD). This project is a testament to our dedication to fostering a safer, more connected, and thriving community for generations to come.
Street Scaping
To complement the Safety and Transit Hub, Butler plans to install enhanced streetlights and new bike lanes, substantially improving the safety and accessibility of this heavily trafficked public road, fostering a safer, more interconnected community.
Holcomb Gardens
Butler’s Holcomb Garden, a historic 20-acre public greenspace, serves as a public park to many thousands of visitors each year. Butler plans to enhance this campus and community asset by replanting the space to support the community-driven White River Vision Plan and the University’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.
Potential Future Projects
Housing
Butler has plans to build state-of-the-art apartment-style residential housing for juniors, seniors, graduate students, and young alumni.
Innovative Academic Healthcare Center
Butler is pursuing a reimagined vision for its College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, including its facilities. This vision focuses on being community-minded and future-focused; use of innovation and technology; and new and reimagined partnerships.
Midtown Arts District
A visionary plan is underway to establish The Midtown Arts District as a site-specific Center for Performances and Lectures, Exhibitions, and Arts Education. This plan leverages Butler’s tremendous Arts assets, notably Clowes Memorial Hall, which in 2023 was the No.1 ticket-selling venue in the State of Indiana.
Athletics Master Plan
The goal of the Athletics master plan is to support Butler’s mission by providing exceptional educational and athletic experiences for all students and student athletes.