Gibson Building Restoration - Indianapolis, IN

The Gibson Building was designed by Indianapolis architect Frank Hunter and constructed in the year 1916. Built for Cecil Gibson as an automotive manufacturing and distribution center, it was among the largest and most decorative automobile showroom buildings in the state of Indiana. In 2005, CCB was contracted by OneAmerica Financial Partners to restore this building.

A sense of determination was the driving force behind this project. The deteriorating state of the building along with its unknown risks put a question mark next to the safety of this operation, as well as the client’s return on investment. The structure also possessed many historical features, which made it an even bigger challenge to restore this building to its former glory.

After assessing the options, the owner determined that the best plan of action for a full historical restoration was to follow the guidelines set forth by the National Parks Department.

New triple hung window units were installed on both the north and west facades, while industrial type windows were used in the recessed area on the south elevation. Both were original features and helped the restoration keep the original look of the initial design. The restoration of the terra cotta facade took months of investigative work to determine which pieces could be salvaged and which pieces needed to be fabricated from custom molds made specifically for this project.

New sidewalks with planting beds, repaved parking lots, new curbs, and landscaping were incorporated into this restoration. The interior of the building included a raised access flooring system (18” above the structural slab on floors 2 through 5), allowing the mechanical system to be installed between the slab and access floor. This kept the ceiling clean and column heads visible. The raised access flooring also allowed for lower window sill heights, giving building occupants a better view of the city.

One of the construction challenges was removing a concrete ramp that entered the building on the Michigan Street side and continued to the 2nd floor. This was a feature from when the building was used for automotive purposes. After the removal of the ramp, the space was in-filled to accommodate future tenants.

This project was a true testament to CCB’s ability to overcome unprecedented challenges during the pre-construction and construction phases, and showcased our ability to think outside the box. This assignment also came to us because of our working relationship with OneAmerica Financial Partners, who we’ve been working with since the late 1980’s.