Bottleworks Hotel Renovation—Indianapolis, Indiana

Located in the heart of Indianapolis, the Bottleworks Hotel was recently renovated to restore its beauty and to highlight its timeless terrazzo floors for the new arts and entertainment district.

 

In the 1920s and early 1930s, Rubush and Hunter, a local architectural firm, undertook the construction of the building which opened for business in 1931. The building was an architectural marvel at the time, and no expense was spared. Even though it was originally used to bottle Coca-Cola, the building boasted ornate plaster ceilings, gilded staircases, and intricately designed ceramic tile mosaics. Notably, it had terrazzo floors. 

 

The overall design of the space was fashioned after the art deco trend that was popular at the time, paying particular homage to Coca-Cola’s signature soda. This was most notable in the foyer where the grand staircase was constructed to look like a soda fountain. The intricate tile work on the ceiling was laid in swirly shapes to resemble fizz and bubbles.  

 

In recent years, the once glittering building was boarded up and at one point the ceiling was beginning to cave in. Fortunately, renovation work began on the building to bring it back to life and showcase the treasure inside – the timeless terrazzo floors and all the other intricate, ornate features that made the building famous. 

The renovation project was a huge undertaking. Santarossa Mosaic and Tile, the same contractor that installed more than 70,000 square feet of terrazzo during the 1930s and ‘50s, restored the terrazzo to its prime and installed more than 800 new handmade tiles in the lobby.

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