A ground lease that will create on-campus university-affiliated apartment housing in Bloomington and a build-out of space at two IU School of Medicine facilities in Indianapolis were approved by the Indiana University Board of Trustees at its August meeting in Bloomington.
BPIU Partners LLC will design, construct and finance a six-story, 158-unit housing project of about 193,000 gross square feet at the site of the former Poplars building along East Seventh Street in Bloomington. This university-affiliated apartment housing will be operated and maintained by Buckingham Management LLC, an affiliate of BPIU Partners. The facility is anticipated to open for the 2026-27 academic year.
Unit rental will be prioritized for IU graduate students, who were the primary occupants of on-campus facilities that were retired after having exceeded their useful life. These retired facilities include Banta, Bicknell, Hepburn, Nutt and Evermann apartments, which were demolished in 2020 and 2022, along with Redbud North and East apartments, which are scheduled for removal in 2024.
This solution is a result of the university’s dedication to providing sufficient housing to graduate students and other members of the IU community. A coordinated effort has been made to overcome and address the challenges associated with construction and housing in the current economy.
Following IU graduate students, rental priority in the new facility will be assigned to IU faculty, staff, employees, undergraduate students and affiliates such as visiting scholars. The housing project will provide 394 beds and include furnished studio and one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments; lounge, study and fitness areas; and a leasing office.
The university has also begun prioritizing rentals of IU-owned houses on and near campus for graduate students, totaling about 350 beds. Graduate students will continue to receive priority for this rental housing as well.
IU School of Medicine
In Indianapolis, approximately 51,000 gross square feet will be built out in two IU School of Medicine facilities: the in-construction Medical Education and Research Building, scheduled for completion in late 2024, and the Neurosciences Research Building. Both facilities are adjacent to Indiana University Health’s new downtown hospital under construction at 16th Street and Capitol Avenue.
The eighth, ninth and 10th floors and a portion of the basement — totaling about 48,000 gross square feet — of the Medical Education and Research Building will be converted from shell space into research labs and related support areas, faculty and staff offices, conference space and general support space
Additionally, about 3,000 gross square feet of existing space in the basement of the adjacent Neurosciences Research Building will be renovated for more research and support space. Necessary mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and equipment also will be included. Completion of the build-out is anticipated for summer 2025.
The build-out will enable the IU School of Medicine to expand its highly successful research programs through the recruitment of additional faculty, while also increasing involvement by students in research activities.
“This new research space is critical in helping us reach the ambitious goals we have set as an institution,” said Dr. Jay L. Hess, IU School of Medicine dean and IU executive vice president for university clinical affairs. “This space will help us to continue growing our successful programs in areas like neurodegeneration and cancer by recruiting new researchers. It will also create more research opportunities for students at all levels.”
