The demolition of the Albert Kahn-designed crane bay at the former General Motors plant in Indianapolis is more than a local disappointment — it’s a national warning. The crane bay wasn’t just steel and concrete, it was a monument to American ingenuity.
Despite broad support and generous investment, the crane bay’s removal dismantled more than extraordinary industrial architecture, it erased a chance to fuse legacy with innovation.
As Brad Ward’s op-ed from the Indianapolis Business Journal makes clear, Indiana has proven the power of preservation to revitalize communities. But this time that promise was cut short.
At the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, we mourn the loss. But we also recommit. Let this serve as a reminder: Historic structures are not obstacles to progress; they are scaffolds to ensure it continues.
Read Ward’s full op-ed below and join us in advocating for preservation that honors the past while building the future.