Indiana University Selects Cannelton Grows for 2026 Rural Placemaking Studio

Cannelton Grows is getting a shot at transforming a former school building into a community wellness and entrepreneurship hub, after Indiana University selected the Perry County organization as one of fifteen rural Indiana partners for its 2026 Rural Placemaking Studio.

IU's News Office announced the fifteen-partner cohort on March 5. The studio is run jointly by the ServeDesign Center at IU's Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. Students majoring in comprehensive design and graphic design will lead the project work under Jon Racek, program director of comprehensive design, ultimately delivering professional-grade design schematics that Cannelton Grows can use to seek funding and begin construction.

The program targets rural Indiana communities with populations under 50,000 within roughly a 90-mile radius of Bloomington. This year's cohort spans projects ranging from mural installations and trail enhancements to early-stage architectural concepts for historic community hubs, with Cannelton's former school building falling squarely in that latter category.

"The Rural Placemaking Studio helps communities bring their ideas to life in ways that increase connection and local vibrancy," said Kyla Cox Deckard, interim executive director of the Center for Rural Engagement. "Rural Indiana's beautiful, historic landscapes provide inspiration for thoughtful and welcoming designs."

Peg Faimon, founding dean of the Eskenazi School, placed the selection in broader context. "Over the last three summers, the Rural Placemaking Studio has connected Eskenazi School students with people throughout south-central Indiana," Faimon said. "These partnerships are transformative for the students, communities and leaders, and they result in impactful, beautiful and educational projects that enhance civic pride. The RPS is at the center of our strategic goal to engage our community, state and beyond."

Launched in 2024, the studio has already worked with 25 rural Indiana organizations across 19 counties to develop 30 community-guided placemaking projects. Past work includes a Main Street makeover in Shoals and renewal projects in downtown Washington, Indiana. HWC Engineering, a multidisciplinary firm with expertise in economic development, planning, and landscape architecture, provides support to the studio.

The studio's approach pairs IU students and faculty directly with local leaders, guiding each project from initial vision through implementation-ready designs tailored to the partner community's needs and timeline. All fifteen 2026 projects are set to be unveiled at a public open-house showcase this summer.