Fishers Arts & Municipal Complex

The Nickel Plate District is defined by its formal qualities of containing a Public Green space within the elliptical form of the Civic Center while creating a strong relationship south towards the Central Green extending along Municipal Drive towards East 116th Street. The relationship between the elliptical form of the Civic Center complex and the Central Green extension is an axial one that traverses north to south. The design for the Arts & Municipal Complex respects the strong axial qualities of the site with a clear and identifiable Main Entrance that responds both to the northern Public Green and to the southern Central Green by creating a breezeway addressing both sides.

It is this strong axial relationship that defines the buildings program and finds the Arts Center and Municipal Office wing to the west of the axis and the Auditorium, Council Chambers, City Court, and Support Facilities to the east of the axis. Centrally located on the axis is a formal outdoor courtyard surrounded by the building’s program that remains open towards the north to create connectivity directly to the Public Green. It is the courtyard that becomes the building’s “living room” that finds the arts classrooms and the 400-seat Auditorium opening directly on to this most important civic space.