INDIANAPOLIS—Ralston Square, a $60 million condominium and retail project proposed for downtown Indianapolis, includes a hotel that will pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. The boutique-style hotel, which will include 150 to 160 rooms, will be part of a 10-story building located just two blocks from the new Lucas Oil Stadium, the future home of the Indianapolis Colts. The developer for the project is Indianapolis-based Ralston Square Ltd. Liability LLC. The architectural firm designing the complex is Ratio Architects, also of Indianapolis.
The steel and brick building will have a rooftop terrace planted in grass or gardens, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and a solar shading mesh on its west side. The green features are expected to cost $500,000 more than a conventional building design.
“We are going to be looking at the envelope of the building and plan to orient it on an east/west axis, shading the south side and insulating the north side,” says William Browne Jr., principal architect at Ratio. “We also plan to incorporate low-flow showerheads, water collection and recycling, and energy-efficient mechanical systems.”
Browne says attempts will be made to procure construction materials from within a 500-mile radius. Construction waste will be recycled. While there are several LEED-certified buildings in Indiana, they are not privately-financed projects.
“Private development is just starting to embrace this,” Browne says. “Finally, there appears to be a real interest. Our firm is championing green building.”
If financing is found, groundbreaking could occur in the spring, with the opening in late 2009 or early 2010.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
