Indianapolis, Indiana/509,582 square feet
At the northwest corner of Meridian and New York streets the 300 North Meridian tower rises to 28 stories with a style and elegance that immediately made it a popular favorite among local fans of architecture. While the choice of an unconventional reddish granite from South Dakota combined with black glass windows makes a darker statement than most downtown buildings, the high rise does take cues from surrounding buildings, most obviously the Gothic-inspired Chamber of Commerce building next door.
The first nine floors are devoted to 335 parking spaces comprising more than one-third of the tower’s square footage. The garage is mechanically ventilated and is skinned to match the office portion of the tower. The 16 floors above consist of Class “A” office space. The building’s vertical characteristics, emphasized by pointed projections of contrasting granite and setback corners, draw the eye upward to a low, copper-colored dome that crowns the structure. The row of glass dormers at the top floor illuminate a two-story library of the building’s prime tenant, a large law firm.
The architects opted for an understated tower with rich, dark color, subtle detailing, and allusions to older buildings, including the 1926 Chamber of Commerce building next door.
