Translating Speed, Story, and Innovation into Design

For Synthesis, the Clear Creek Welcome Center was an opportunity to translate the spirit of the Indianapolis 500 into architecture. Working in close collaboration with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, our team set out to design a building that captures the movement, energy, and pride that define one of Indiana’s most iconic events.

The Exhibit Hall became the centerpiece of that idea. Its angled glass and metal brackets rise toward the visitor, creating a forced perspective that evokes the rhythm of a passing INDYCAR. The composition gives a sense of motion even when standing still, an architectural expression of speed and innovation.

Inside, Synthesis worked alongside HAMILTON to develop an immersive exhibit that extends the story beyond the building’s form. Through interactive elements and sensory experiences, the space draws visitors into the history and emotion of race day.

Bringing this vision to life required precision and collaboration. Fink Roberts & Petrie and Applied Engineering Services helped refine the structure and systems that make the dynamic form possible, balancing lightness, performance, and efficiency.

The result is a place where storytelling and structure meet, where design mirrors the innovation and legacy of Indiana’s racing culture. Clear Creek is more than a welcome center, it’s a moment of motion captured in architecture.

Photos by Daniel Showalter.