The Hilton Garden Inn® Indianapolis Downtown once was the Fletcher Savings and Trust Building, which was built in 1914. The 16-story Neoclassical building was considered unique at the time because of its steel frame construction.
The building operated as a bank from 1914 until 1992. Various mergers made the building the headquarters of the largest bank in Indiana in 1921 and 1954. During the building's lifetime, many business organizations have operated in the building, including some prominent Indianapolis organizations. For a list of organizations throughout the years, click here.
The building has operated as a Hilton Garden Inn since December 2003 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The building's main historic characteristics include a marble floor in the main lobby; marble and ironwork on the first three floors; a plaster ceiling in the lobby; two of the original vaults; interior stairwell railings, ironwork and brass; brass elevator doors on the first floor; brass mail collection box and mail chute; and exterior façade consisting of Crotch Island granite and Bedford limestone.
The building was designed by architectural team Arthur Bohn and Kurt Vonnegut Sr., who were partners of the architectural firm Vonnegut & Bohn. The firm was formed in 1888 by Bohn and Vonnegut's father, Bernard Vonnegut; the pair's first project was The Athenaeum (formerly Das Deutsche Haus) in Indianapolis. Other Vonnegut & Bohn projects included the Herron Art Institute, Jewish Temple and Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, as well as the federal building in Vincennes, Ind.
This Web exclusive information is a supplement to Such great heights.