On November 14 and 15, RUDC hosted a symposium titled “Cities are relationships: Regionalism & Polycentricity.” Guests were welcomed to Indianapolis from all corners of the United States and across the globe. Day 1 was spent at the historic Athenaeum interacting with 21 speakers across 5 panels and 2 keystones. The topics were wide ranging yet interconnected, demonstrating that not only are communities related, but the issues the face and the solutions they utilize are related too.
The day started with a discussion about how Indianapolis is planning for culture and equity by bridging gaps between groups as the city fosters thriving communities. It followed with conversations about how innovation districts and high education institutions are anchoring cities and spurring commercial, residential, and placemaking growth. Because the symposium is about regionalism as well as urban design, discussions about community scale and scalable solutions kicked things off after lunch. Attendees were reminded to think about communities, cities, and solutions as systems. And they learned that innovative tools, like land banking, are scalable from a single lot to a neighborhood or community scale. Other innovations were discussed, including the impact that can be made by the artistic class, agriculture, socio-economic data, artificial intelligence, and evolving practices in sustainability. The day was capped by a lecture led by Amanda Loper, AIA from David Baker Architects on residential design in urban environments; this program was hosted by AIA Indianapolis at the historic Indiana War Memorial auditorium.
On Day 2, attendees walked and biked across downtown Indianapolis and surrounding neighborhoods thanks largely to the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, an 8.1 mile long shared-use path and linear park. The trail took attendees between historic neighborhoods, the central business district, college campuses, and an urban state park. There were many common themes through the day. The economic impact of the Cultural Trail and the recently established bus rapid transit lines were apparent; new mixed use development and institutions are located all along the routes. The success in preservation and reutilization of historic structures was prevalent in the Fountain Square, Fletcher Place, and Massachusetts Avenue neighborhoods. Opportunities for further reuse are abundant with the repurposing of a former City Hall as a hotel, condominium, and apartment development and the pending redevelopment of the historic City Market. The local bikeshare program connected attendees to the nearby campuses of Indiana University Indianapolis and Purdue University in Indianapolis. And the tours were closed with a visit to White River State Park and the multiple cultural institutions it hosts.
RUDC received positive feedback from attendees. Two recurring themes occurred. First, attendees were impressed with Indianapolis. Many were visiting for the first time and were surprised by the success and pursuits of a “fly over city.” Second, attendees enjoyed the wide range of discussions and the knowledge that panelists provided. There was plenty of new information presented. The big takeaway for those that attended and for those that didn’t is that AIA’s Knowledge Communities are an incredible resource to tap and take the opportunity to tour communities that you have not yet discovered.
A lot of thanks to go around…
To our panelists and speakers: Vop Osili, Lourenzon Giple, Assoc. AIA, Marlee Cawthorn, AIA, Brent Webb, Emily Krueger, Jessica Leonard, AIA, Amber Chellis-Omedo AIA, Greg Deason, Matt Hansen, David Gamble, AIA, Pam Harwood, AIA, Nath Howard, Jeb Reece, Tom Collins, PhD, John West, Jim Walker, Robert Lisauskas, Dr. Ivonne Weichold, Steve Wilson, AIA, Nico Larco, and Amanda Loper, AIA.
To our tour guides: Craig Von Deylen, AIA, Daniel Liggett, ASLA, Meg Busch, Bill Browne Jr., FAIA, Kären Haley, Adam Thies, AICP, Jake Oakman, and Jonathan Hess, AIA.
To our organizers and supporters: Jason Larrison, AIA, Scott Archer, AIA AICP, Peter Darby, AIA, Nathan Ogle, AIA, Manuel Sanchez-Ruiz, AIA, Laura Wake-Ramos, AIA from the Project Delivery KC, Ashlee Dingler, AICP, Lisa Berretta from AIA, and Kim Shelley from AIA Indianapolis.
And to all of those that attended.
Thank you for your support and engagement with RUDC and the symposium! And stay engaged!