Purdue to expand research footprint in Indianapolis with new facility

INDIANAPOLIS — Purdue University is continuing to expand its significant research enterprise in Indianapolis with the planned acquisition of a state-of-the-art laboratory facility on the city’s northwest side.

The Purdue Research Foundation late last month completed the purchase of the Northwest Indianapolis Research Building, located at 5735 W. 96th St., with plans to transfer ownership to the university in the future. The 80,000-square-foot facility will enhance the university’s research capacity, adding 50,000 square feet of laboratory space in the capital city while further strengthening the connection between West Lafayette and Indianapolis.

Situated on approximately 5 acres along the Hard Tech Corridor, the two-story building features biotechnology research laboratories equipped with specialized infrastructure, including walk-in cold storage units, darkrooms, autoclave rooms and utilities designed to support advanced scientific research.

“Purdue Research Foundation is focused on creating the environments that enable innovation to thrive,” said Chad Pittman, president and CEO of Purdue Research Foundation. “This facility not only expands Purdue’s research capacity but also advances the university’s long-term vision for Indianapolis as a hub for discovery, industry collaboration and One Health innovation.

“Most importantly, it creates new opportunities for the partnerships that move research from the laboratory into real-world impact. It is an investment in the people, partnerships and ideas that will shape the future.”

The planned Northwest Indianapolis Research Building acquisition represents another major investment in the university’s long-term vision for Indianapolis while immediately expanding opportunities for impactful Purdue research. The facility will more than double Purdue’s current wet lab capacity in Indianapolis, providing researchers from both locations needed space to accelerate discovery.

Over the past several years, the university has expanded its physical footprint through strategic acquisitions and industry partnerships to pursue research that addresses critical challenges while creating additional research, work and collaboration opportunities for Purdue students and faculty in Indianapolis.

The Northwest Indianapolis Research Building project supports two strategic university initiatives  — Indianapolis and One Health — by fueling research innovation in human, animal and plant health while continuing the university’s enhanced presence in Indianapolis.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a research institution ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As a land-grant university committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free.