Purdue University celebrates opening of Indianapolis campus
From atop Monument Circle, U.S. Sen. Todd Young looked out over a sea of black and gold.
“I think it’s fair to say that, as of today, this world-class city has at least one world-class university,” Young said with a grin. “I choose my words carefully.”
Purdue University in Indianapolis will officially launch Monday, marking the official end of IUPUI. Indiana University Indianapolis also begins operation as a separate school the same day, taking the majority of the partnership's buildings and programs.
In a ceremony Thursday, top state and local officials celebrated what many called an “Indianapolis expansion of West Lafayette’s campus.” Purdue President Mung Chiang described shuttles going back and forth between West Lafayette and Indianapolis, creating an “integrated, smooth experience.”
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Most new Purdue construction will be located on 28 acres west of West Street, south of Indiana Avenue and north of Michigan Street, said Dan Hasler, chief operating officer of the Indianapolis campus. Historically, IUPUI had played a part in razing historic Black neighborhoods on Indiana Avenue, but Mitch Daniels, Purdue president emeritus and former governor, said Hasler had met with the neighborhood to try to enhance it.
The first new building, a mixed-use academic building, was approved by Purdue trustees June 7; it’ll be at the intersection of West and Michigan streets and is estimated to cost $187 million.
School officials intend to integrate other buildings into the community, Hasler said. For example, Purdue’s new animal science research facility with Elanco is next to Elanco, and a recent partnership with Dallara is located at Dallara’s headquarters.
More than 800 students are expected to start their first year at Purdue University in Indianapolis in the fall, Hasler said. Degrees and tuition will mirror those on Purdue’s flagship campus. Current IUPUI students aiming for a Purdue diploma can continue their current plans of study.
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Currently, Purdue University’s Indianapolis location only supports a few engineering programs. However, the school expects to add programs such as nursing, business and hospitality before August 2025. These programs will be different enough to IU Indianapolis that there won’t be competition, Hasler said.
Officials highlighted how the new campus will bring jobs and new innovation to Indiana.
“Seventy-five years ago, Neil Armstrong was planting the Purdue flag on the moon,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said. “Think about what will not only be discovered here in Indiana, because of Purdue and the students and faculty, but about how that will then in turn improve our quality of lives and our quality of place.”
Contact IndyStar politics Pulliam fellow Nadia Scharf at nscharf@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @nadiaascharf.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue University Indianapolis campus celebrates opening
