City breaks ground on convention center expansion and new hotel

The 143,500-sqft center expansion + construction of a new 800-room hotel, as part of a strategic plan for downtown growth, is officially underway.

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This expansion will bring the total number of hotel rooms connected via climate-controlled skywalks in Indianapolis to more than 5,500 — more than any other city in the country.

Rendering by RATIO Architects via Indiana Convention Center

It’s official. The construction phase of the Pan Am Plaza redevelopment project has begun.

Yesterday, Aug. 1, the City of Indianapolis and community leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of the sixth expansion of the Indiana Convention Center and the construction of a new headquarters hotel.

Mayor Joe Hogsett called this a “legacy extending project,” which has already yielded $9 billion in investments in our city.

This expansion project and construction of a new Signia by Hilton hotel downtown will help the city maintain the relationships with its largest tourism and economic development partners (like Gen Con , which is in town this week) and also bring in new opportunities.

The ICC expansion project also includes a rooftop pool.

Rendering via Indiana Convention Center

“This expansion and new headquarter hotel not only enhance our city’s skyline, but help us keep our largest annual customers, allow us to more effectively host multiple major events simultaneously, draw new four-and five-star event business, and drive more Hilton-loyal groups to the city,” said Leonard Hoops, Visit Indy President and CEO.

We’ve told you all about this development, but in case you need a refresher — this project includes:

  • A 40-story, 800 room Signia by Hilton hotel tower, which will transform the southwest Indianapolis skyline + become the tallest hotel.
  • A 143,500-sqft convention center expansion, which will house one of the top 10 largest convention center ballrooms in the US + a skywalk over Capitol Avenue that will connect the expansion to the existing convention center.

This project is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2026.

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Nicole is based in Indianapolis, IN and graduated from Franklin College with a degree in multimedia journalism. She previously worked as a digital editor for the local NBC News affiliate WTHR. In her free time, she loves checking out new restaurants + businesses around downtown and attending local events.
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