Butler University Secures $9M Grant for Clowes Hall Renovation

The project, which will begin in June 2025, is part of Butler’s $100 million Midtown Arts District plan.

Source: Butler University / BUTLER University

INDIANAPOLIS — Butler University has received a $9 million grant from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation to fund major renovations to Clowes Memorial Hall and build a new multi-purpose venue next to it.

The project, which will begin in June 2025, is part of Butler’s $100 million Midtown Arts District plan, which aims to create a vibrant connection between the campus and Midtown Indianapolis.

Renovations to Clowes Memorial Hall will upgrade seating, add gender-neutral restrooms, and improve stage and loading dock facilities to support larger productions.

A new event space, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom, is set to open in 2027.

Butler President James Danko said the improvements will enhance the theater’s ability to host more Broadway shows, concerts, and comedy acts. “The foundation’s generosity will significantly improve the venue that honors Allen Whitehill Clowes’ legacy,” Danko said.

Future developments include a convention center, a Hilton Curio Hotel, and outdoor gathering spaces designed to position Butler’s Midtown Arts District as a cultural anchor for Indianapolis.

The renovation of Clowes Memorial Hall will take place in several phases, starting in June next year:

Phase One:
- Upgrades to seating across the three balcony terraces
- Addition of open-air suites
- Renovation and expansion of restrooms, including 13 new gender-neutral facilities
Phase Two:
- Installation of two additional loading docks
Phase Three:
- Major stage upgrades, including new rigging points and reinforced flooring
Phase Four:
- The Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom is introduced to the east lobby, a flexible event space opening in spring 2027.