Joseph E. Walther Hall: Housing Lifesaving Therapies

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Indiana University School of Medicine

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Indianapolis, Indiana

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254,000 SF

The image shows a modern institutional building photographed at twilight or early evening. The architecture features a prominent curved glass façade that creates a dramatic focal point, illuminated from within so the interior structure is partially visible. The building combines contemporary design elements with some traditional materials like brick visible on portions of the structure. The complex appears to be part of a larger campus, possibly a university science center, research facility, or corporate headquarters, given its substantial size and architectural prominence. The structure has multiple stories with varied rooflines, including some peaked elements visible at the top. The glass curtain walls reveal the interior lighting, giving the building a welcoming and active appearance despite the evening hour.

The image shows a spacious, modern architectural interior featuring a grand lobby or atrium space. The left side has a curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows allowing abundant natural light to stream in, creating dramatic shadows across the polished floor. On the right is a large, textured stone or concrete wall with horizontal striations. The ceiling has an interesting geometric design with suspended white panels and recessed lighting. In the foreground, there are several seating areas with vibrant red armchairs and round wooden coffee tables, arranged to create conversation spaces. The overall aesthetic combines contemporary architectural elements with warm furnishings.

The image shows a laboratory or clean room facility with several large stainless steel tanks that appear to be bioreactors or fermentation vessels (labeled MVE 1800 Series). A person wearing a white lab coat and blue gloves is working in the space, appearing to handle something near one of the tanks. The room has a clean, clinical environment with white walls, overhead lighting, and a light-colored floor. Various utility connections hang from ceiling-mounted rails, and there are small control panels or monitors visible near some of the equipment. The space looks designed for bioprocessing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or similar scientific applications requiring sterile conditions.

The image shows a well-equipped scientific laboratory with multiple workstations. The lab features wooden cabinetry with black countertops organized in island configurations. Several analytical instruments are positioned on the counters, including what appear to be spectrophotometers or other laboratory equipment with distinctive blue and white casings. A computer workstation is visible with a monitor and keyboard, positioned at a high desk with a black rolling lab chair. The walls have extensive open shelving holding various laboratory supplies, containers, and equipment. In the background, there's a glass-fronted storage cabinet likely containing more specialized equipment or chemicals. The space is well-lit with fluorescent ceiling lights, and a window is visible on the right side. In the foreground corner, there are several laboratory flasks containing colored liquids (one appears to be reddish and others blue). The overall appearance is of a modern, functional research or testing laboratory in an academic or industrial setting.

Indiana University School of Medicine’s Joseph E Walther Hall houses scientific discovery for lifesaving therapies. Designed to promote multidisciplinary collaboration among principal investigators and faculty researchers to increase translational research, the facility includes cancer, neuroscience, and immunobiology programs.

Laboratory spaces are designed with flexibility to accommodate technological advancements. Walther Hall also includes instrumentation rooms, tissue culture rooms, specialized testing rooms, suites for BSL-3 Research and vector production, as well as a cell repository and DNA serum bank. Consisting of six stories, a basement and a mechanical penthouse floor, the facility also supports administrative space an auditorium and shared conferencing areas.

Finally, key features of the Indiana University School of Medicine Joseph E Walther Hall include:

23,495 sf vivarium
200-seat auditorium
BSL-3 research and vector production
Cell repository
Class 10,000 clean room
DNA serum repository (for 50 ultra-low -90C freezers)
Over 100 research labs
Three BSL-3 suites, including one in the gene vector facility
Uses almost 20% less energy than the national average for lab facilities
Chemistry, anatomy, gross anatomy, physiology, and toxicology laboratories
Part of the research complex on the Indiana University School of Medicine Campus, over 500,000 SF

Walther Hall combines innovation in healthcare, academic research, and interior architecture to advance medical breakthroughs for generations to come.

View other Discovery projects.

Disciplines

Architecture, Engineering, Planning

Awards

2009 Monumental Awards: Achievement Award in Architecture & 2009 Monumental Awards: Merit Award in Interior Design, AAALAC Accredited

Joseph E. Walther Hall: Housing Lifesaving Therapies

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