Elanco presents water-focused, LEED-certified headquarters and public art for Valley neighborhood

John Barth, chair of the Indianapolis City Environmental Sustainability Committee, opened the meeting by introducing Elanco Animal Health’s presentation on the company’s new downtown headquarters and related public art.

Mackenzie Higgins, representing Elanco Animal Health, said the company is “really really excited to be moving into downtown and incredibly honored to be able to be new residents in the Valley neighborhood.” She described the project as a long-term approach to the site that “incorporated the White River into our design” and said water is a theme throughout the campus.

Higgins said the office building will be LEED certified and that the office sits on a podium above a parking structure “to be able to prevent flooding if there was a 500 year flood event.” She described extensive native plantings and green infrastructure along Henry Street designed to capture and irrigate stormwater through soil and vegetation rather than letting it run directly into the White River. Higgins also described a large public art installation at the northwest corner of Henry and the repositioned White River Parkway called “Water and Dripping River.”

Committee members asked about the project’s costs, water capture, and solar. Higgins attributed the outcome to “our leader, Jeff Simmons, the CEO” setting a vision to make the headquarters a downtown destination and to prioritize walkability and urban design. On stormwater, she said the project emphasizes green sinks and landscaping to infiltrate and treat runoff and that the campus aligns with the planned White River State Park expansion adjacent to the site. On solar she said she was “not positive if there is solar on the building” and offered to follow up with the committee.

Several members asked about the site’s history. Higgins said the Valley neighborhood has been historically industrial, that a General Motors stamping plant once occupied part of the site, and that the plant later was demolished before the Elanco project. She described Elanco’s relocation from its prior headquarters in Greenfield to this downtown site.

The committee praised the approach and thanked Elanco for presenting. No formal action or vote took place on the item at this meeting.

The presentation provided committee members with design and planning details they said will inform future conversations about the White River expansion, neighborhood impacts and public art.