As part of expansion and renovation plans announced Wednesday by Butler University, Clowes Memorial Hall will be expanded to include a new venue for concerts, conferences and special events.

The Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom, an 11,000-square-foot venue expected to open in 2027, will be built on the east side of Clowes Hall, officials said.

Construction of the ballroom is planned as the final phase of a $9 million project to transform Clowes Hall, a 61-year-old venue known for touring productions of Broadway musicals and comedians such as Nate Bargatze, Jim Gaffigan and Jo Koy. The work is funded by a $9 million Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation grant.

Clowes Memorial Hall is named after George Henry Alexander Clowes (1877–1958), a managing director of Eli Lilly and Co. and father of Allen Whitehill Clowes (1917–2000).

“The impact that the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation has had on arts and humanities initiatives in Indianapolis over the years cannot be overstated, and Butler University is extremely grateful for this donation, which will significantly improve the venue,” said Butler President James Danko.

The first three phases of renovation are planned for 2025, with Clowes Hall expected to remain closed for workers from June to October:

• Convert 24 balcony terrace seating areas into suites and add 13 gender-neutral restrooms.
• Add loading docks on the north side of the venue.
• Upgrade the venue stage with reinforced flooring and new ceiling mounting points.

Aaron Hurt, Butler’s vice president of arts, events and corporate management, said Clowes Hall is a busy venue that deserves improvements. According to Hurt, ticket sales for Clowes events increased from $2.8 million in 2015 to $8 million in 2024.

Clowes Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave., is a 2,200-seat event venue with fixed seating. The Schrott Center for the Arts, which opened next to Clowes in 2013, is a 475-seat performance venue with fixed seating.

Hurt said the Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom will feature a general admission area — with room for 1,200 to 1,450 standing room — where artists who appeal to Butler students can perform.

“It’s past time for us to open a second major venue,” Hurt said. “I think it will do well in the market here, particularly with shows aimed at the student base.”

The ballroom is the latest announcement in a wave of new concert venues in central Indiana. In 2024, the Fishers Event Center (7,500 seats), Hendricks Live! (600) opened in Plainfield and Turntable (400) opened in Broad Ripple. On deck are an indoor version of the Hi-Fi Annex (1,200 seats) at Fountain Square and a downtown facility (4,000 seats) that is a partnership between Indiana Pacers owner Herb Simon and concert company Live Nation.

In addition to hosting concerts, the Butler Ballroom is also used for conferences and pre-show events for both Clowes Hall and the Schrott Center for the Arts. The Allen Whitehill Clowes Ballroom will be attached to the north side of the Scrap and the east side of Clowes Hall, Hurt said.

“All three buildings will become one building,” Hurt said.

Clowes Hall was built in 1963 from limestone and concrete and is considered a jewel of brutalist architecture. The building, designed by John M. Johansen and Evans Woolen III, was named one of the city’s ten most architecturally significant post-World War II structures in 2021, according to a six-member jury organized by the Institute of Architects Indianapolis.

Danko, who became Butler’s president in 2011, told the IBJ that the school is taking a measured approach to remodeling the building.

“We have always been aware of the importance of this venue in our city and not just on our campus,” Danko said. “We are very conscious of this when making changes. The Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation is also aware of this. They are the ones who have been truly generous to us over the years, including with this significant donation of nearly $10 million. We have these conversations all the time.”

In 2021, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation donated $1 million toward a $1.5 million facelift of Clowes Hall, which included a glass enclosure replacing part of the wall above the main entrance. The changes resulted in the Marquee Club on the second floor, which is accessible to donors during events.

The original price tag for Clowes Hall was $3.5 million, with $2 million provided by the Clowes family.

Danko said the expansion and renovation of Clowes Hall was an example of Butler “putting the pedal to the metal” to make an impact.

“For example, when we competed in the Big East (2013 conference), we were competing against some outstanding universities on more than just the basketball court,” he said. “We are also building our national reputation and part of that is attracting people to your campus.”

At Clowes Hall, seating in the balcony terrace boxes on the sides of the theater may have obstructed views as no chairs are elevated compared to others.

When converted into suites, there will be tiered seating in fixed rows.

“One of the biggest complaints we get is someone standing two rows back in the box who can’t see the stage,” Hurt said. “We’re fixing this problem.”

Danko said the Clowes Hall project serves as the start of a $100 million “Midtown Arts District” that is part of the Butler Gateway Project, the school’s master plan to create a connected community between Butler and neighborhoods such as Broad Ripple, Butler-Tarkington and Crown Hill, Meridian-Kessler and Rocky Ripple.

Future plans include construction of a multi-purpose convention center attached to the Sunset Avenue parking garage north of Clowes Hall. Danko said a “significant dollar amount” would be required to make this 30,000-square-foot idea a reality.

“We hope this will allow certain academic conferences to take place on our campus and give Butler greater recognition on a national level,” Danko said.