James T. Morris Arena
Indianapolis, IN
- Sports & Venues
130,000 SF
4,500 Seats
A new athletics and convocation center for IU Indianapolis, the James T. Morris Arena stands to serve both the university and the broader community by expanding the city’s Sports District. The intimate, mid-size venue fills a much recognized gap in the sports venue landscape in the region.
The Opportunity
The facility is defined by two primary facades, one engaging the campus, and the other the city. Inside, it houses an intimate 4,500 seat arena, a flexible auxiliary gym, athletic offices, training spaces, and hospitality areas. The design creates a flexible, high-impact facility that elevates the student-athlete experience, strengthens community engagement, and reinforces the identity of IU Indianapolis as a hub for athletics and events. Through the strategic use of retractable seating, the arena is highly adaptable, allowing the University to host a wide range of athletic and cultural events within a single venue. The facility serves as the home court for Division I basketball and volleyball and also incorporates space for Athletics Department administrative offices, along with additional leasable tenant space.
Context-Led Integration
Consideration has been given to seamlessly integrate the arena into a one-of-a-kind site, allowing the existing site and context to inform early design decisions.
The Response
The arena is a good neighbor, sensitively responding to its context through a scale and composition that are consistent with adjacent buildings. As a landmark addition to the IU Indianapolis campus, the arena also enhances the city of Indianapolis’ credentials as a top-tier sports and entertainment city; sited adjacent to the NCAA headquarters and within walkable proximity to the downtown core. The arena serves as both a showcase for IU Indianapolis as well as a versatile community asset, filling a recognized gap within the region’s sports venue landscape and enhancing the city’s ability to host major events; while also strengthening the University’s regional presence and supporting long-term growth.
The Design
The arena project strives for simplicity in its form and rationality in its function. These straightforward architectural responses create a powerful effect. A signature roofline with a unique long-span structure and large expanses of glazing enhance transparency, anchored by rich Indiana limestone. James T. Morris Arena will stand as a model case study for successfully integrating a marquee sports venue, balancing contextual responsiveness with venue intimacy and multi-purpose flexibility.
