By rssfeeds-admin Keystone Construction gutted and adapted the century-old Illinois Building at 17 West Market Street, built in 1925 as a luxury office building, and at a cost of $101 million — $40 million more than intended — constructed a five-star hotel designed for high-end guests.
”We think luxury travel specific that Indy as a market is ready for that to have another luxury hotel on board,” said Intercontinental Director of Sales and Marketing Zachary Lockett. “Definitely in the entertainment business, the sports business, corporate business, you’ll see this that the function space is really geared toward C level executive style meetings.”
Guests will enter a narrow elevator lobby on the first floor, with a hand-painted ceiling above, as a chandelier fills the two-story atrium to the second-floor lobby home to the front desk, itself an actual piece of art, and a café/lounge with small conference rooms overlooking the corner of Market and Illinois streets.
The original ten-story building has been extended an additional floor skyward to accommodate a new rooftop lounge and penthouse.
”I think just bringing more food and beverage outlets to Monument Circle is really important in general. Having a place with service for lunch is nice as opposed to something that is quick and grab-and-go which we see a lot in this area,” said Lockett, who noted the synergy of a steakhouse neighbor on the ground floor. “We think Hyde Park is going to compliment the hotel really well. Maybe have a cocktail and a shareable plate here, move downstairs for a dry aged steak for dinner and then head upstairs to Astrea for the rooftop bar for deserts and a nitecap.”
The rooftop bar features an outdoor lounge overlooking Monument Circle, a view Lockett said has never been seen before.
”We think we’re gonna have the best view of the tree lighting and Festival of Lights.
”The building has 160 guest rooms. 140 of those are different accommodations, queen-queen accommodations for families or larger sporting groups. 17 suites, which is very suite heavy for this size building. That includes these luxury suites which are a true one-bedroom with a half bath and incredible soaking tubs in the bathroom.”
The opening of the Intercontinental comes in the midst of a hotel building boom in downtown Indianapolis.
While the Signia by Hilton Hotel construction looms over Pan Am Plaza, Indianapolis International Airport has announced plans to construct a $200 million 253-room Marriott Westin at the air terminal as Aloft prepares to open on East Market Street and a Shinola brand hotel will be built across from Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
”When you look at adding properties like Intercon, Aloft, certainly with already existing assets like the Conrad and the Alexander, those boutique/high end luxury hotels, they’re very appealing from a tourism perspective because it elevates our brand and it attracts additional types of visitors into our city,” said Visit Indy Vice President Chris Gahl. “You think about the NFL Combine taking off this week, you’re an NFL owner, you might be staying at the Conrad, the JW Marriott, or the Intercon. If you’re coming in to do business with Lilly, you might be staying at the Alexander or maybe the Intercon. It really helps us diversify the types of audiences we can welcome.”
While the Intercontinental’s ribbon cutting is set for next week, the first guest have already checked in.
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