Industrial Design And Plush Comforts Come Together At Ironworks Hotel Indy
The hotel's aesthetic is informed by the industrial history of America
(Ironworks Hotel Indy)
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Perfect For: Travelers seeking a unique boutique with an emphasis on distinct design
The industrial design found throughout Indianapolis’ Ironworks Hotel is evident before guests even step foot inside the property, via the prominent metallic pillars and hotel nameplate that greet visitors as they approach the hotel. It’s a statement that might come as a surprise, with Ironworks Indy General Manager Andrew Burns describing the industrial aesthetic as a choice guests might not think “would fit the mold for something like a product like this.”
“When you think of things like…luxury and refinement, usually girders and rust and iron are not words that come to mind,” the GM shares with A HOTEL PODCAST. “Sophisticated soot, these kinds of things. Not necessarily things that become a byword.”
The Indy property is the second Ironworks Hotel from Geronimo Hospitality Group, following Wisconsin’s Ironworks Hotel Beloit. As Burns reveals, both hotels “honor the industrial and the manufacturing heritage of the American Midwest,” hence the emphasis on mechanical elements across the Indy property.
“Two things that Beloit, Wisconsin and Indianapolis, Indiana have in common is that they were both manufacturing hubs,” the GM explains. “They were Midwest cities whose entire economies revolved around their manufacturing capabilities. They are both Midwest cities that are situated on a medium size river on relatively flat ground. And the river bisects the city in two, relatively down the middle. And all along and up and down that river, you'll find the manufacturing and factory hubs that are the heartbeat of both of those cities.”
Burns details that Beloit and Indianapolis’ similarities “made Indy a perfect candidate for the building of the second Ironworks Hotel,” with both properties showcasing “design choices and aesthetics when it comes to holding on to that 1920s heritage, and holding on to a time where America's manufacturing might (have) defined whole communities.”
“There is a very fine line that was walked, I think, by the design team between honoring that industrial heritage and the touches that luxury and sophistication in a hotel stay are what people are looking for,” Burns continues.
Upon entering the Ironworks Indy, guests will no doubt notice the prominent American flag on the wall facing the lobby. The flag showcases industrial machinery that corresponds to various parts of the country, from the West Coast to Manhattan and the spaces in between. The installation, created by artist Jim Spelman and titled American Echoes, is, according to Burns, “100 percent…a statement piece.”
(Ironwork Indy’s American Echoes installation by artist Jim Spelman)
“The piece itself is made of machine parts from the Beloit machine core,” Burns reveals. “They are wooden molds and machine part molds…that are meant to mirror the movement and shape of the machinery that shaped our nation. So that piece by Jim Spelman, I think really does an excellent job of embodying the message of what the Ironworks concept was meant to be and standing as a daily monument to the things that we were hoping to remind people of with a concept such as that.”
(The bedroom of the Founder’s Suite)
Ironwork Indy’s 120 rooms and 10 suites offer plush and cozy amenities, including terry cloth robes, leather couches, rainfall shower heads, retro clock radios, hardwood desks, and more. Burns cites the combination of softer plush touchpoints, rustic wood pieces, and industrial elements as transporting guests “back to an iron foundry, but not necessarily one that you wouldn't want to sleep in.” The GM details the rooms as providing “the vibe and the aesthetic of the 1920s without having to sacrifice any of the luxury.”
(The Founder’s Suite living room)
Standout lodging offering can be experienced in the Legacy Terrace Suite and the Founder’s Suite, both of which offer access to an expansive outdoor balcony. Guests can relax in wicker seating and enjoy the outdoor fire pit beneath the prominent Ironworks Hotel Indy signage at the top of the building.
(Ironworks Hotel Indy’s top floor terrace)
The hotel is also the recipient of a number of awards since opening its doors in 2017. Those honors include coming in at number nine in the Top 25 Hotels in the US for Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards and Condé Nast Traveler’s 15 Best Midwest Hotels 2024: Readers' Choice Awards. Ironworks Indy was also included in the inaugural round of MICHELIN Key Hotels. All of which Burns attributes to the hotel’s staff.
“First and foremost, it's a testament to the hard work of the team members who call Ironworks home on a day to day basis,” he confirms. “The building and the concept is truly one of a kind in something that's unique and that travelers are not going to be able to experience in any other stopover or any other city that they travel through. But these kind of accolades really do underline the fact that not only have those concepts been able to be taken off the ground, but they've been able to be maintained and embraced by the people who call our business home every day.”
For more from Burns, including Indianapolis’ tourism draws and the impact of the Indianapolis dates of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour on the hotel, check out the GM on A HOTEL PODCAST below.
Find more via Ironworks Hotel Indy. And subscribe for more from A Hotel Podcast on LinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Words and media by Jaime Black.
Overnight accommodations and dining provided by Geronimo Hospitality Group.