Indy Chamber opens submissions for 2017 Monumental Awards on 6/20

Indy looked very different when the inaugural Monumental Awards was held in 1977:  There were barely 1,000 hotel rooms available in Downtown Indianapolis, and the combined populations of Carmel and Fishers was just breaking 20,000.  Regions Tower was the city’s tallest building; neither the newly-renamed Salesforce Tower nor the OneAmerica Tower had risen to reshape the skyline.  Railroad traffic was still winding down in the corridor where today’s Monon Trail welcomes more than a million walkers, runners and bikers every year.   

Four decades later, the Monumental Awards continues to spotlight the businesses and individuals who make this growth possible by planning, designing and building more appealing and attractive places to live, work and play.   

Submissions are open from June 20th until midnight on Friday, July 28.  Projects completed between June 1, 2015 and June 1, 2017 in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Morgan and Shelby counties are eligible.  Submission forms and full guidelines, including category descriptions and judging criteria, are available atIndyChamber.com/MonumentalAwards.    

Submissions will be evaluated by expert committees using criteria developed by a number of industry and professional organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Interior Design Association, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Indiana Construction Roundtable, the Urban Land Institute, the American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.   

Winners in each category, along with an overall Monumental Award honor and a ‘People’s Choice’ awardee, will be announced at the annual Monumental Awards Gala; this year’s event will be held October 19th, 2017 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.   

“For four decades, the Monumental Awards have showcased the built environment, and its critical role in economic development,” said Michael Huber, President & CEO of the Indy Chamber.  “The Awards have grown as our region has boomed with new people, employers and visitors.  We hope for a long list of worthy nominees for this 40th opportunity to recognize the special talents of those who create buildings, communities and shared spaces that serve a practical purpose and inspire a sense of awe.”