JEFFERSONVILLE — Officials unveiled plans for the newest America Place development at River Ridge Commerce Center on Tuesday, featuring unique art-inspired designs.
Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith and officials with the city of Jeffersonville, River Ridge and One Southern Indiana broke ground on the new 11-acre, $25 million office and retail park. The development will be anchored by two three-story office buildings totaling 108,000 square feet surrounded by lots for retail businesses.
"As the River Ridge Commerce Center grows, we're witnessing the growth of companies locating jobs in Southern Indiana," Smith stated in a news release. "That's because companies locating in River Ridge are gaining the unparalleled advantage of Indiana's business climate, along with River Ridge's central location near interstates, railroads, an airport and an international port. With the construction of a new heavy haul corridor linking River Ridge to the Port of Indiana and today's latest investment from America Place, the Indiana advantage for businesses is stronger."
Designs for the center are inspired by the modern look of Louisville's Speed Art Museum expansion. America Place commissioned architect Kulapat Yantrasast, of wHY Architecture, to lead the project's design team. Greg Gardiner, project manager for the Speed Art Museum expansion, is project manager for the development.
Renderings show a facade made of three rows of large glass squares, some red, white and blue. Sidewalks are also designed in a criss-cross pattern.
The center will be located next to the Amazon Fulfillment Center, less than three miles from the east-end bridge.
"Like the east-end bridge that will open later this year, this project will be transformative," America Place founder and president Jim Karp stated in a news release. "There is nothing else like it in Southern Indiana. It might seem like a gamble to invest $25 million in high-end office space in a suburban area, but we know there will be growing demand for projects like this once the new connection to East Louisville and Oldham County is completed."
No name has been chosen for the new center. Office buildings will be marketed to organizations looking for quality space to centralize headquarters or operations next door to one another.
America Place is the largest private owner of River Ridge land, with more than 170 acres of current and future industrial developments. America Place at River Ridge is made of three buildings — a 150,000 square-foot building leased to automotive supplier Tenneco Inc., a 200,000 square-foot building leased to food manufacturer Mondelez International and a 252,000 square-foot building completed but unoccupied.
"We love this location and are continuing to invest in its future," America Place Managing Director Debbie Smith stated. "We are investing in facilities to attract top-tier companies, and we want all the amenities available in top-tier markets. Whether it's through adding more landscaping and greenspace, designing interesting architecture or creating elegant space for meetings and trainings, we are focused on raising the bar for development in Southern Indiana."