Why Smaller Cities are Leading the Charge in Innovative Urban Design
By Cornelius (Lee) Alig When people think about cutting-edge urban design, they often picture megacities like New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. These places have scale, density, and the resources to fund bold infrastructure and architectural projects. But in my experience, some of the most creative, people-centered urban design is happening not in the big […]
How Adaptive Reuse is Reshaping the Heartland’s Urban Core
By Cornelius (Lee) Alig When people think about transformation in cities, they often picture brand-new skyscrapers or sprawling developments breaking ground. But across the Heartland—in cities like Indianapolis, Detroit, Columbus, and Kansas City—the most exciting changes aren’t always being built from scratch. They’re being brought back to life. This is the power of adaptive reuse—the […]
The New Blueprint: How Adaptive Reuse is Redefining Real Estate Development in the Midwest By Cornelius (Lee) Alig
A Fresh Look at What We Already Have When I began my career in architecture and development here in Indianapolis, new construction was seen as the gold standard. A vacant lot was a blank slate, and we were eager to build from the ground up. But over the years, my perspective shifted. I started to […]
Adaptive Reuse and the Future of Midwestern Cities By Cornelius (Lee) Alig
Honoring the Past While Building for the Future As someone who has spent his entire life and career in Indianapolis, I’ve come to understand the deep value that history brings to a city. Our buildings, our streetscapes, and even our old warehouses hold memories—stories of industry, culture, and community. But in many Midwestern cities, these […]