Indianapolis EMS (IEMS), Health & Hospital Corporation (HHC) of Marion County and community leaders broke ground on a new headquarters for the ambulance service.
The facility will house and expand IEMS operations, academic services, fleet, logistics and administrative staff. IEMS will relocate from its current westside headquarters on Georgetown Road to a site near the new Marion County Public Health Department laboratory. The move is part of HHC’s broader investment along East 38th Street, which also includes the Eskenazi Health Thomas & Arlene Grande Campus, opened in 2024.
“This new headquarters shows not only how much we’ve grown, but also a recognition for how vital IEMS is to the totality of public safety in our city,” said Dr. Dan O’Donnell, chief of IEMS. “I thank Health & Hospital Corporation for their investment in us, and to the men and women serving each and every day, we applaud you for your tireless work to make this the premier EMS organization in the country.”
Mayor Joe Hogsett said the new facility will strengthen the city’s public safety infrastructure.
“Indianapolis EMS stands alongside our police officers and firefighters to ensure that our neighbors are protected each and every day,” Hogsett said. “This new headquarters will give our first responders the space they need to continue to grow and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of public safety here in Indianapolis.”
City-County Councilman Ron Gibson said the investment will improve emergency care and public health.
“IEMS plays a vital role in saving lives, and I’m proud to see this new headquarters take shape along East 38th Street,” Gibson said. “This investment is about strengthening the infrastructure that supports emergency care and public health in our city, and I would like to thank Health and Hospital Corporation for their continued investment in our community.”
The new headquarters will expand space for IEMS Academic Services, which trained more than 120 new emergency medical technicians and paramedics last year. It will also support the fleet division, which services and maintains more than 40 IEMS ambulances and support vehicles, and the logistics division, which ensures IEMS and other EMS agencies have the equipment to respond to emergencies.
“Today was more than just a groundbreaking. It was a much-needed step into a future where we’re better equipped to serve the needs of our health and safety,” said Paul Babcock, president and chief executive officer of HHC. “We are grateful for the tremendous work of Indianapolis EMS and are excited to welcome them to the Avondale Meadows neighborhood.”
Robert Lazard, chair of the HHC Board of Trustees, said the project reflects long-term planning.
“I applaud and congratulate Indianapolis EMS on their growth and dedication to our community, while being excited for a project that matches that dedication,” Lazard said. “This is an example of Health & Hospital Corporation’s strategic planning and dedication to the community as we chart a path forward and find new opportunities to wisely invest in public health.”
More information about Indianapolis EMS is available at www.indianapolisems.org.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
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