An under-construction bridge in Indianapolis is being designed in a distinctive, wave-like format—an outcome of the reimagination of a classic suspension bridge. The novel structure is positioned at the junction of Fall Creek, West 10th Street, and Riley Hospital Drive.
The wave-like design replaces traditional large vertical masts with a fan-type arrangement of smaller masts and substitutes customary suspension cables with flat steel plates. This approach, designed by an international team including sbp; Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU); Moniteurs Communication Design; Martha Schwartz Partners; Shrewsberry & Associates,; CTL Engineering; Circle Design Group; and People for Urban Progress, aims to connect the 16 Tech Innovation District with the city’s research and medical corridor.
During the design phase in 2021, the team engaged the community for six months by involving residents from the nearby West and Northwest neighborhoods through online surveys, virtual meetings, hotlines in English and Spanish, site walks, neighborhood canvassing, and collaborated with a local STEM-based school.
Guided by a local advisory committee of residents and civic leaders, this engagement played a crucial role in shaping the final design, emphasizing accessibility by dedicating more than half of the bridge’s square footage to non-vehicular use.
“By prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle traffic, while also emulating the trees of Fall Creek, the bridge represents a stride towards achieving a more carbon neutral city, while functioning as a prominent connector that brings greater awareness of Indianapolis’ complex network of outdoor hiking trails and pathways,” says PAU founder and creative director, Vishaan Chakrabarti.
The bridge is expected to be completed by summer 2024.
