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Indianapolis Campus

Indianapolis Main Campus Satellite Locations

Conference Center and Culinary Institute

Location

2820 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46208

Host your next event at the Ivy Tech Conference Center and Culinary Institute!

Our facility offers the perfect space and amenities for your next event, including:

  • More than 15,000 square feet of event, conference, and meeting space
  • State-of-the-art technology
  • Free and convenient parking
  • Spectacular views of the downtown Indianapolis skyline from the penthouse level
  • Dedicated planning assistance with onsite IvyTech team member 

Pricing

 

For more information, please email in-events@ivytech.edu or call 317-916-7870.

 

Host an event

Thank you for your interest in hosting an event at the Ivy Tech Conference Center and Culinary Institute! Please complete the inquiry form and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss additional details. 

More Information

  • Directions

    Ivy Tech Community College Conference Center and Culinary Institute
    Downtown Indianapolis Campus
    2820 North Meridian Street
    Indianapolis, Indiana 46208

    View campus map

    From the Northwest

    Go south on I-65 and take the 21st Street exit. Turn left onto 21st Street and go east to Illinois Street. Turn left onto Illinois Street and right onto 28th Street. The entrance to the facility’s parking area will be on your left.

    From the West

    From I-74 East or I-70 East, take I-465 North to 38th Street and turn right. Turn right on Meridian Street, then right onto 28th Street.

    From the South

    Go north on I-65 and take the 21st Street exit. Turn left on Illinois Street. Turn right onto 28th Street.

    From the East

    Go west on I-70 and take the I-65 North exit. Go north on I-65 and take the 21st Street exit. Turn left on Illinois Street. Turn right onto 28th Street.

    From the Northeast

    Go east on I-465 and go west on I-70. Take the I-65 North exit. Go north on I-65 and take the 21st Street exit. Turn left on Illinois Street. Turn right onto 28th Street.

    Visitor parking

    Guest parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Conference Center, as well as in the parking garage connected to the Julia Carson Learning Resource Center. Guests should not park in any spaces or lots marked “Reserved”.

    Wireless internet

    Ivy Tech Community College offers free guest wireless access in our campus buildings. Guests should select the “IvyGuest” network connection.

  • All event rooms are equipped with a ceiling-mounted projector and screen, as well as a computer. Guests typically only need to bring a flash drive for presentations. Clients will also have access to the facility’s inventory of handheld and lapel microphones.

  • Caterer

    Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering is the exclusive caterer in the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center and all food and beverages for events must be provided by this vendor. 

    For more information, contact:

    Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering

History

The former Stouffer's Hotel at 2820 N. Meridian is now the home of Ivy Tech Community College's Conference Center and Culinary Institute.  The hotel was built in 1965 and operated until the late 1980s. After being home to a Christian ministry for many years, Ivy Tech purchased the building in December 2010 and has renovated it for classrooms, training, meetings, and conferences.

How it all began

During the Civil War, Gilbert Van Camp developed a method to can fruits and vegetables for the family store, located in Indianapolis. He made his fortune during this time, as this canning method made it possible to send beans to the soldiers in the field. In the 1880s, Gilbert and his wife, Hester, purchased the property at 2820 North Meridian Street and built their mansion. It remained a private residence until the early 20th Century when it became the home of the International Typographical Union.

Transition to the hotel and celebrity guests

The Stouffer Restaurants purchased the property in the 1960s. The mansion was demolished and the Stouffer Hotel was built in 1965. The focal point of the hotel was the penthouse restaurant, The Ramsgate, which featured woodwork, stained glass, and a fireplace from the original mansion, as well as an amazing view of the downtown skyline. The hotel quickly became one of the prominent locations for weddings, proms, and other celebratory events in the city. It was also a favorite lodging site for local and national celebrities when they visited Indianapolis.

Richard Lugar held his inauguration celebration at the hotel when he was elected as mayor of the City of Indianapolis. Dolly Parton and the Osmonds stayed at the hotel, and legend has it that Elvis stayed on the 11th floor of the hotel in 1977 when he was performing in Indianapolis – a performance that would turn out to be his last live performance. The hotel remained popular until the mid-1980s, as the popularity of downtown grew and became the focal point of the city. The hotel closed in the late 1980s.

Post-1990s

The building remained vacant until the early 1990s when it was purchased by Bill Gothard Ministries, who established the Indianapolis Training Center. The Christian-based ministry provided vocational and Christian-based education to at-risk youth and families.

Ivy Tech

With a $23 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, Ivy Tech Community College acquired the property in 2010 and renovated the facility for classroom and conference space. The Culinary and Conference Center opened in August 2012 and houses the Hospitality Administration Program, conference center, and more.

With state-of-the-art technology, the center provides the opportunity to provide training and development solutions for Indiana businesses through specialized courses and certifications. The center also features a student-operated fine-dining restaurant, Courses Restaurant, and bakery/café, Courses Bakery, as well as a conference center, with over 12,000 square feet of flexible meeting space available to the public.