"The Pyramids in Indy" by Paul J Everett is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Indianapolis’ massive Pyramids dominate the landscape and are an unmissable icon. Designed by Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates, the nearly 157-foot tall buildings were completed in 1972. Originally they were to be part of 9 identical buildings but the remaining 6 were never built.
The unusual design was created to serve several practical purposes. The floor to ceiling windows permit ample natural light, the slanted shape facilitates this by allowing more light to enter than traditional vertical windows, the pyramid shape helps to reduce elevator usage by housing a larger numbers of workers on the lower floors, the design utilizes an open floor plan by placing the elevators and restrooms in the 14-foot wide concrete walls.
Roche is renowned in the field of architecture, having been awarded high honors such as the Pritzker Prize. He designed the Ford Foundation, and Knights of Columbus Building, and worked on St. Louis’ Gateway Arch. Interestingly, Roche would reject labels about his work and kept his focus on how people would use the building. Maybe that’s how his work possesses a timeless quality.
