Acquisitions & Hotel Openings

New Indianapolis Hotel to be Called The Alexander

January 13, 2012 - Buckingham Companies and Dolce Hotels and Resorts today announced that the new world-class business hotel they are creating will be named The Alexander in honor of Alexander Ralston, the engineer and architect who in 1820 spearheaded the creation of the city’s plan, which to this day gives Indianapolis its urban dynamism. The Alexander is part of CityWay, the heart of a new neighborhood north of South Street that will encompass a public park and state-of-the-art YMCA, high-quality residences, office space and retail.

Developed by Indianapolis-based Buckingham Companies and designed by the noted architecture firm, Gensler, The Alexander will be managed by Dolce Hotels and Resorts of Rockleigh, N.J. The state-of-the-art, 209-room hotel will cater to individual business and leisure travelers and provide group clients with 16 meeting rooms totaling 16,000 square feet of function space.

“The Alexander will be a compelling, inspiring gathering place for people who live and work in downtown Indianapolis, complementing our vision for CityWay,” said Scott Travis, Buckingham senior development executive. “The hotel will be integral to CityWay’s uniquely interconnected, urban neighborhood of residential, office and retail facilities.”

The hotel will include a full-service executive restaurant, an American-style brasserie and 2,200-square foot lounge with a commanding view of the downtown skyline. The Alexander will also prominently feature contemporary art, including site-specific commissions.

“The Alexander is our new model for urban hotels, a hybrid between a center-city lifestyle and conference hotel,” said Steven Rudnitsky, Dolce president and chief executive officer. “Buckingham is creating a spectacular venue where we will deliver world-class service, cuisine and amenities.”

The Alexander will be one of only two Indianapolis hotels certified by the International Association of Conference Centers. The hotel's meeting facilities will feature state-of-the-art audio-visual technology and high-speed, wireless Internet service throughout the building.

Construction of The Alexander has progressed steadily following groundbreaking ceremonies last August and will open this fall. In addition to the hotel, the $155 million CityWay project covers eight blocks and includes multiple buildings framing a public plaza.

Alexander Ralston was born in Scotland in 1771 and emigrated to the United States after the American Revolution. He worked with the noted French architect Pierre L’Enfant on the design of the new nation’s capital. In 1820, Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham were commissioned to survey Indianapolis and later developed the plan for the soon-to-be state capital.

Ralston’s designs for the city were inspired by L’Enfant’s plan for our nation’s capital. Downtown Indianapolis today varies little from Ralston’s original concept, and his vision continues to inform the city’s development. He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, where his gravestone is engraved with a layout of the city’s initial design.

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