Butler University has officially put shovels in the ground for its next big stage. Yesterday, the school broke ground on the Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom, a midscale entertainment venue that will plug into the east side of Clowes Memorial Hall and the Schrott Center for the Arts on Butler’s Indianapolis campus. The project is powered by a $9 million grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation that will cover both the new ballroom and a multi-phase renovation of Clowes. University officials say construction is starting immediately, with the ballroom expected to open sometime in 2027.
Funding and scope of work
According to Butler University, the $9 million gift announced in December 2024 will fund the ballroom along with phased improvements to Clowes Memorial Hall. Planned upgrades include expanded gender-neutral restrooms, converted balcony suites and enhanced stage rigging. The university describes the project as an early building block for a broader Midtown Arts District that is meant to more tightly connect Butler’s campus with Midtown Indianapolis.
Design, size and capacity
Project renderings depict an approximately 11,000-square-foot hall that can pivot from a general-admission concert setup to private-event layouts, with capacity changing based on the configuration. The Indianapolis Business Journal reports the ballroom could accommodate roughly 1,200 to 1,450 standing patrons and notes that the new space will connect directly to the east side of Clowes and the Schrott Center for the Arts.
Leaders' voices
“The renovations to Clowes Memorial Hall are going to greatly improve the patron experience,” Butler President James Danko said, adding that the upgrades should help attract more Broadway, music and comedy to Indianapolis. Dr. James Lemler, president of the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, said the foundation is “proud to continue supporting a vision that strengthens arts, culture, and community,” according to Butler University.
Construction and timeline
As reported by WTHR, Butler marked the start of the project with a ceremonial groundbreaking and named AECOM Hunt as the construction lead, with officials saying crews will get to work right away. University material published in 2024 outlined phased work that would begin before the ballroom is added as the final phase, and local reporting has pointed to varying 2027 timelines as the project moves from design into full construction.
What it means for the local live scene
Industry coverage suggests the new mid-scale hall is set to plug a noticeable hole between intimate club stages and large arenas, giving promoters, touring acts and campus groups another option when booking events. The Indianapolis Business Journal has noted that the ballroom is coming online as other regional venues have helped expand the live-entertainment market, a trend Butler leaders point to when making the case for stronger arts infrastructure on campus.
Next steps
Butler and the Butler Arts & Events Center say they plan to share construction updates and programming details as the project advances, and they emphasize that the ballroom is intended to serve both the university and the broader community. For more on the renovation work and the new ballroom, the university directs readers to Butler Arts & Events Center project materials and recent local coverage of the groundbreaking.
