Welcome to the #FortBenTech Campus!

Created from the former Fort Benjamin Harrison military base, "Fort Ben" has transformed into a serene, walkable, technology and innovation campus located just 10 miles northeast of Downtown Indianapolis.

A Rising Star for Tech

Nominated as a 2019 “Rising Tech City” – Fort Ben and the City of Lawrence have been recognized as a community with emphasis on tech.   The nomination honors two-decades of strategic planning and investment into creating an innovation campus with a rich history, one-of-a-kind setting, and accessibility.  Easy connections to and from major employment hubs of the Indianapolis region, and ample amenities and housing in walking and biking distance have brought more than 25 tech companies within the half-mile radius of Fort Ben.  Read more here.

A Collaborative Community

The tech companies at Fort Ben, the City of Lawrence, the Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority (FHRA) have partnered to create and deepen relationships within the tech ecosystem through Tech Focus Groups, Tech Mixers, and events like the “Trades and Technology Symposium” to provide introductions and offer forums to share what their firm can offer other partners and highlight what connections would be helpful to form with neighboring firms. These conversations and partnerships strengthen each company and the very fabric of the Fort.

Start or Scale Your Business in a Historic Cultural District

Join a united ecosystem of more than 25 tech companies that chose the Fort for its location and amenities!  With flexible options to start or grow your business, you can find the right fit at the Fort.
    • Join the WorkHaus56 coworking and networking hub to grow your new business. 
    • Start your business at The Fort Harrison Office Suites – a home for small start-ups on campus.
    • Grow into one of our existing structures - including one-of-a-kind historic buildings that offer modern connectivity and infrastructure.
    • Establish your headquarters at one of our few, remaining shovel-ready parcels.
    • Follow #FortBenTech on social media for up-to-date news and information about our partners and campus-wide events!
    Contact us if you are interested in learning more about the right opportunities for your business

Attract and Retain Talent

 Fort Ben Tech and Placemaking Asset Map Full.pngOne of the things that sets Fort Ben apart from other cultural districts is the mix of history and nature with modern infrastructure and amenities.  As a community, we see this as a direct investment in the ongoing ability of our current tech companies to attract and retain talent, as well as a tool to attract new companies to invest in the Fort and contribute to an even more robust tech ecosystem.

      • A walkable campus for more than 100 years, the Fort boasts improved streets, sidewalks and bike lanes
      • Coming Soon: the IndyGo rapid-transit Purple Line will have 2 stops on campus, terminating at the Ivy Tech Campus, before heading back downtown
      • Easy connections to and from major hubs of Indianapolis region.  (Enjoy that reverse-commute!)
      • Abundant free parking
      • Enjoy 11 unique, local dining experiences within walking distance - plus many of your favorite national chains
      • Golf, hike or ride a horse on your lunch break at the Fort Harrison State Park that surrounds the Fort to the northwest, enjoy a quiet moment in one of the several parks and green-spaces, or join our award-winning YMCA for a quick workout
      • Hospitality options to host business guests, trainings and events on-site at The State Park Inn and a planned 97-room Hilton hotel
      • Coming soon: The Indianapolis Public Library will be opening their 2nd largest branch here at the Fort.

Cultural Campus at the Heart

Preservation and placemaking have been emphasized since the closure of the base with the original donation of 1,700-acres of land to form the Fort Harrison State Park and Golf Course and continues today with the recent announcement of a Lilly Endowment grant of $5.85-million to establish a cultural campus at the heart of Fort Ben. Through a collaboration between Arts for Lawrence, the City of Lawrence, the Fort Harrison Reuse Authority and many private partners, the “Cultural Campus” will remodel and expand the historic Theater at the Fort, improve city park land to create a new public greenspace and stage, relocate and preserve the historic military Communications building, regain public control of the prominent historic water tower landmark, and bring a variety of visual and performing arts to the Fort throughout the calendar year.  To learn more check out this video.

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