An iconic Art Deco Coca-Cola bottling factory stood unused; developers turned its 12-acre site into a mixed-use destination featuring a food hall and hotel

For years, an old Coca-Cola bottling plant in Indianapolis stood as a reminder of another time. The building had once been a major part of the city’s industrial life. Its white terra cotta walls, Art Deco details and large factory spaces made it hard to miss. But after Coca-Cola sold the property, the site eventually became part of the Indianapolis Public School system and was used as an IPS Service Center, as per the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis and National Park Service.



Then the property changed hands again.


In 2017, Hendricks Commercial Properties purchased the building and its surrounding site. Construction started a year later, setting the stage for a major transformation. What had once been an industrial bottling plant was turned into the Bottleworks District, a mixed-use destination with a hotel, food hall and other community-focused spaces.

The project did not simply replace the old factory with something new. Much of the building’s original character was kept in place.

A Coca-Cola plant built to stand out

The Coca-Cola Bottling Plant sits at the east end of Indianapolis’ Massachusetts Avenue Commercial Historic District. The main building comes to a point at the corner of Carrollton Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue, giving it a strong presence along one of the city’s diagonal streets.

Rubush & Hunter, one of Indianapolis’ leading architecture firms of the time, designed the first phases of the plant. Construction began in 1930, and the William P. Jungclaus Company built the main plant in 1931.

The building was covered in white glazed terra cotta. Its exterior was filled with Art Deco details, including geometric designs, flowers and other decorative features.

Inside, the design was just as detailed.

The main entrance opened into a two-story lobby with a circular staircase, terrazzo flooring and a ceiling decorated with brass medallions. Another entrance led to a receiving room with a long marble-topped counter and colorful polychrome mosaics.

Even the factory areas were given decorative touches. Stair rails and doorknobs carried Art Deco details rather than being treated as simple industrial fixtures.

A one-story garage was also built in 1931. It stood close to the main building and followed much of the same design style.

The plant continued to grow over the years. Additions were made toward the northeast in the 1940s. At one point, the complex became the largest Coca-Cola bottling plant in the world.

Philip A. Weisenburgh played an important role in the building’s long design history. He had worked as chief draftsman for Rubush & Hunter and was known for his skill with ornamentation. After the firm’s partners retired in 1940, Weisenburgh continued working on additions and renovations at the site into the 1950s.

From an unused factory to the Bottleworks District

Coca-Cola eventually moved on from the property.

In 1968, the company sold the building to the Indianapolis Public School system. The school system used the complex as an IPS Service Center for nearly 50 years.

By the time Hendricks Commercial Properties bought the property in 2017, the site was ready for a new purpose.

The redevelopment brought in Ratio Architects, LLC, and the team took a careful approach to the old building. Thousands of exterior white terra cotta tiles were restored. Hand-lettered gold leaf details were brought back to life.

Inside, the project kept many of the features that made the plant special. Intricate balustrades, glazed tile mosaics and vaulted ceilings were preserved throughout the main building and garages.

At the same time, the site was opened up to the surrounding neighborhood.

Streets and sidewalks were reconnected to the city grid. This improved access for both drivers and pedestrians. The Bottleworks District also sits along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, linking the development with downtown Indianapolis and nearby cultural and historic areas.

The project became one of the largest private investment projects in Indiana. Funding included city support for purchasing the property and environmental cleanup, along with Indiana Economic Development Corporation Industrial Recovery/DINO Program funding, lender debt and owner equity.

The result was a very different use for a very old industrial site.

The former Coca-Cola plant was no longer simply a factory. Its historic spaces were given new life as part of the Bottleworks District, including a hotel and food hall, while much of the original Art Deco design remained visible.

Instead of clearing the site and starting over, developers kept the building’s history at the center of the project. That approach helped turn an unused industrial property into a place connected to the city around it, while preserving one of Indianapolis’ most recognizable examples of Art Deco architecture.

FAQs

What happened to the old Coca-Cola bottling plant in Indianapolis?

The former Coca-Cola plant was bought by Hendricks Commercial Properties in 2017 and redeveloped into the Bottleworks District, a mixed-use destination with a hotel, food hall and other spaces.

Are the original Art Deco features still there?

Yes. Much of the building’s original character was preserved, including its white terra cotta exterior, glazed tile mosaics, balustrades, vaulted ceilings and other Art Deco details.