Bottleworks District

The site of the Bottleworks District was initially the location of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Indianapolis, a bottling plant operated for The Coca-Cola Company. It was designed by the Indianapolis architectural firm Rubush & Hunter that had been responsible for several previous large-scale architectural projects across the city.^[2][3] The main building was constructed by the construction firm Jungclaus-Campbell Company in 1931.^[4] The facility was expanded multiple times over the coming decades, making it the largest Coca-Cola plant in the world, and at its peak, the plant employed about 250 workers and produced over two million bottles a week.^[5] The total size of the plant stood at nearly two blocks following the completion of all expansions, covering about 11 acres (4.5 ha).^[6][7]

In 1964, the factory was purchased by Tony Hulman, at the time owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With the advent of aluminum can production, the plant fell into decline, and Hulman moved can-making operations to a nearby plant in Speedway, using the Bottleworks plant as a site for his vintage car collection.^[1][8][9] In 1968, the site was purchased by Indianapolis Public Schools, who used the former plant as a kitchen and a service center. In May 2016, IPS agreed to sell the building to allow for the redevelopment of the site.^[1][2]

Redevelopment of the site began in 2017, when the city of Indianapolis approved the creation of a mixed-use site in what would become the Bottleworks District, with construction of the site being led by Hendricks Commercial Properties, a Wisconsin-based company.^[2] The expected cost of the redevelopment was around $300 million, with the first phase of construction beginning in 2018 and ending in 2021.^[10][4] The main building was converted into a 139-room hotel, dubbed the Bottleworks Hotel, with the design of the building mimicking the Art Deco fixtures of the old plant.^[11][12] The hotel opened to guests in late 2020, as part of the first phase of the project, and also contains a clubroom and several on-site dining locations.^[13] The stairwell of the hotel is designed to resemble a soda fountain, while the ceiling resembles soda fizz.^[14][15][16] The hotel is owned and operated by Geronimo Hospitality Group, a company based in Wisconsin.^[16] In January 2021, a 36,000 ft² (3,300 m²) food hall, The Garage, opened as part of the redevelopment, with an expansion of that venue occurring in spring of the same year.^[10][17] The building occupies the former garage spaces of the plant.^[14]

The second phase of the project called for the construction of about 250,000 ft² (23,000 m²) of development that was initially planned to be mixed-use residential and office space alongside a five-story mixed-use building. However, most of the planned residential space was instead converted to office space in the final design. The expected cost of the second phase was around $100 million.^[18] Construction of the second phase, initially planned for late 2020, was delayed to the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and began in early 2021.^[19] Phase II was completed in mid-2025.^[20] In 2023, the site won the Cook Cup for Outstanding Restoration from Indiana Landmarks, a preservation agency.^[21]

Multiple corporations have relocated their operations to areas within the Bottleworks District. In 2024, Indiana Members Credit Union, an organization with over 160,000 members, relocated their headquarters to an office within the district.^[22] In July 2025, Ernst & Young announced it would move its Indianapolis office to the Bottleworks District.^[23]

• List of Art Deco architecture in Indiana
• List of attractions and events in Indianapolis
• List of Coca-Cola buildings and structures