Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

HEAPY collaborated with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to develop an Infrastructure Master Plan, focusing on enhancing museum operations, improving guest experience, and increasing environmental performance. The master plan outlines a 10-year horizon (2025-2035) with an investment range of
$40-50 million. This comprehensive plan targets upgrading critical systems to ensure reliability, improve energy efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions. The plan provides a sequenced approach to upgrades and facility renovations to minimize operational disruptions during implementation.

HEAPY worked closely with museum leadership and maintenance staff over a nine-month period to gain a deep understanding of the current infrastructure, including a thorough review of utility data and existing system design and operation. Several site visits were conducted to assess the condition of the equipment, leading to the development of potential replacement strategies. The final plan includes recommendations for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing system replacements.

Key improvements in the mechanical systems involve replacing air handling units and chillers, implementing a transition from steam-based systems to heating hot water systems, and adding heater chillers to enhance energy efficiency. Electrical upgrades include implementing a double-ended substation for greater reliability, reorganizing main distribution panels, and integrating photovoltaic panels to lower the museum’s carbon footprint. Plumbing upgrades focus on simplifying the domestic hot water system and addressing aging storm and sanitary drainage piping.

The comprehensive plan positions the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for long-term infrastructure resiliency, ensuring that each phase of the project supports the overall goals of sustainability, reliability, and guest comfort. HEAPY’s collaboration with the museum’s team and key stakeholders ensures that the implementation aligns with operational needs while optimizing the museum’s future infrastructure performance.