Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
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Location: Carmel, IN

Three developers pitch airport hotel



Kite, Mansur, White propose midfield facility

By Jennifer Whitson jwhitson@ibj.com





Three developers are vying for the chance to build a four-story, 250- to 300-room hotel connected to the new $974 million midfield terminal and garage at the Indianapolis International Airport.

While developers are confident there is demand for a high-end, on-site hotel, some say it could face stiff competition from closeby downtown hotels.

â??Itâ??s a little bit of a pioneering effort for Indianapolis to do,â? said Rob Hunden, a hospitality consultant with Chicago-based Hunden Strategic Partners. â??But Indianapolis can surprise people in a good way.â?


...read the rest and check out a rendering of one developer's proposal athttp://indybiznow.com/Default....amp;page=1&article=Ar00102

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

Am i able to put up any small videos on this site? I was able to transfer my footage of what the terminal looks like now after landing the other day and i have some pretty good shots. The roof is taking shape VERY nicely.

Member

Joined: 27 Jun 2006
Posts: 5
Location:

You might try putting the videos on youtube and then just posting the link on here.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

Could they have made the terminal building a "linear" shape like DTW at IND? I like the idea of one long concourse as opposed to two. DTW is an excellent example of a nice terminal.

Member

Joined: 21 Jun 2005
Posts: 28
Location: Indianapolis

I am totally sold on the Marriott proposal by White Lodging Services Corp. It was designed by Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum, the same architecture firm that designed the terminal itself, which is a huge selling point for me. I think it perfectly complements not just the terminal but also the garage. I think it totally incorporates itself into the entire site plan and has the same "feel" of the other structures without overwhelming them. The sweeping and arching design and also the use of glass mimics the terminal perfectly. I would be very interested in seeing the other proposals and even more interested in seeing who gets awarded this contract.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

In my opinion Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum has done an outstanding job on the design of this new terminal. They should definitely be proud of their work. Based on their amazing terminal design I'd award the hotel design with my eyes closed. Now the question I have is how does this impact the 2020 projected size of the airport? According to the executive summary the expanded parking garage was supposed to stand where the hotel is going.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I found this image over on skyscraperpage.com

Image Source: ibj.com

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

I agree that DTW is a very nice example of a nice linear terminal. They probably could have made somewhat of a linear terminal but it looks like that DTW had much more land to use compared to IND. I think the era of "concourses" is over..and when i saythat i mean airports like PHL or BWI, that have several concourses jutting out from a "main" terminal.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Agreed. There is much more efficiency of operation in a linear or mostly linear design. A/C get in and out faster, baggage and freight move more easily, security and pax transfers are easier, etc.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

The only question is, can the situation at PHL be remedied?

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

How much is the area around the current airport entrance (I-465, airport expressway, etc.) going to change once the new terminal opens? Obviously, that airport entrance will not be in use.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I'd suspect that area changes a great deal. That is prime real estate where the type of services required for that specific area have changed. Perhaps someone with the IAA or BAA could chime in on that.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

Anyone here going to try to get on one of the first flights in/out of IND??

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

First flight is too early. First day maybe

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Depending on what day it actually is, I could be on the 0545 CO flight. I think that's the first flight out, isn't it? Of course, the switch will be over a Saturday night - Sunday morning, won't it? I usually fly Monday mornings.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

Plus, who knows what the airline schedules will be like at that point. It is a crapshoot *loL*

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

I doubt they will change that much, unless another event like 9/11 happens.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

You never know...it is still a long time away.

Member

Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 248
Location: Lexington ky

also airtran could change there schedule and if they add more west coast destionations they could set up a east west hub here

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

They really don't need another hub to reach the west coast markets. The 737-700 is more than capable of reaching ATL from anywhere on the west coast.