Cross-section view showing a new hotel/conference center located in land between the IMS grandstands and a relocated 16th Street. Exciting landscaping and public art create a beautiful boulevard and plaza spaces and create a festival atmosphere.

This view of IMS from Crawfordsville Road at Georgetown Road shows flags, banners and digital screens or artwork lining the exterior of the grandstands. New trees and plaza space for vendor tents help create a festive atmosphere.

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The intersection of Georgetown Road, 16th Street, and Crawfordsville Road is reconfigured in this vision, extending Main Street north and jogging Georgetown Road to create a traditional intersection. This simplifies the dominant traffic flow but also gives Main Street a high-profile intersection from which to draw traffic to its retail establishments. This new intersection also helps reduce its’ size and complexity, making it possible to safely accommodate pedestrian traffic.

Just north of this new intersection, on axis with Main Street, is a new civic heart for Speedway, containing a new Town Hall and public library. This arrangement could be complemented by a rapid transit stop or perhaps by a local trolley or bus service. Again, this new development reinforces Main Street as a viable commercial location.

Main Street is extended north to create a new “ town square” becomes the terminating end to the revitalized spine (Main Street) With the rerouting of 16th Street and the closing of Georgetown Road, the once chaotic intersection is now calmed and pedestrian can be returned to the site. By locating a transit stop and integrating a downtown trolley route the new retail, office and housing development can be catalyst for a revitalized Main Street.

The retail “side” of Main Street (the west side) sees no significant changes in this vision. Infill development, restoration or rehabilitation of existing structures, and decorative street furniture and paving bring the street back to a very friendly pedestrian experience. One model often mentioned by workshop visitors is Zionsville, Indiana, with its small-town feeling of quaint, locally owned shops and historic atmosphere.

This existing buildings at 11th and Main Streets celebrates its corner location with a corner entrance. Simple upgrades such as brick restoration, new awnings, planters and benches, colorful signage, flags, and new sidewalks and trees can breathe new life into this older structure. The sketch below illustrates similar treatment to an existing building at 10th Street.

The brick paving and street trees on this portion of Main Street really adds character to the street. Additional improvements might include an information kiosk, new awnings and signage, and additional planters along the building.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the dominant landmark on the west side of Indianapolis, and this vision seeks to capitalize on this asset by energizing the grandstands. By “bending” 16th Street to the south, a “buffer” is created between the track and the street, opening up the opportunity for an expanded hotel and conference center, a new headquarters facility, and a new museum. These new buildings would provide a great facade along 16th Street and gateway into the track itself.

Dynamic, kinetic artwork or digital sculpture could be placed on the upper portions of the grandstands themselves, providing a vibrant and exciting ambiance that celebrates the activity inside the stands. Similar facade treatment with lights, flags, and color could also transform the Georgetown Road grandstands.

Wrapping the grandstands with the year-round uses like the museum, headquarters and hotel would complement other proposed active uses across 16th Street, helping to give the street a more attractive, pedestrian atmosphere and the IMS the opportunity to create a dynamic new face.

Below: This cross-section view and elevation view of the IMS facade along Georgetown Road shows new elevator shafts, flags, lighting, and other design elements that provide a festive new look for the track.

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The industrial side of Main Street (the east side) receives a face lift in this vision. New development provides opportunities for smaller light industry, but the buildings also have a retail storefront on the Main Street side, providing the industry a retail outlet. This provides Main Street with activity on both sides of the street and is reminiscent of an old “Gasoline Alley” where garage doors were open and passers by could get a peak at the excitement inside. This could also be reflected in new urban condominium development with ground-level retail and upper-level residential. Adding a retail component to the east side of the street helps to achieve the necessary density for Main Street to become a viable commercial destination.



New light industrial uses can continue to thrive along Main Street while contributing to the retail destination experience. Light industrial uses could have retail outlets on the Main Street side, providing entrepreneurs with space to both produce and market their products.



This view of contemporary townhomes use steel, glass and concrete to give a technological feel while maintaining widths and proportions that complement the older buildings on Main Street. Ground-level retail complements Main Street activity while providing a new form of homeownership opportunity for Speedway.

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To attract new residents Speedway must adapt its housing stock. In this vision, two small “villages” of unique housing styles are created that cater to the racing or automotive enthusiast. The “Greaser Village” located near the proposed retention pond and the “Gas Village” located near Main Street, would have a very industrial character and feel, with brick, concrete, and industrialtype windows. Front garages would be reminiscent of old racing garages, but the technology in the building would be cutting-edge, with green roofs, skylights, and modular construction.

Greaser and Gas Village single-family homes would be of a unique industrial character, creating a market niche and complementing the automotive-oriented surrounding development.

The modular homes of varying sizes would also be “green” by using natural daylighting, green roofs, and energy-efficient construction. The homes themselves would be an expression of innovation and technology.