David Dixon Delivers Keynote at Downtown Indy’s State of Downtown Event
Updated: 9 hours ago
The State of Downtown’s theme was “Reaching New Heights”—a bold goal in the midst of the pandemic. Dixon was asked to talk about what these new heights might look like—and even more important to the several hundred attendees representing the full cross section of downtown residents, how downtown was going to get there.
David Dixon, FAIA, delivered the keynote at Downtown Indy’s State of Downtown event on April 28, 2022, exploring the future of downtowns then under siege by the pandemic.
Held at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, the event brought together business leaders, residents, property owners, and civic partners to examine downtown’s recovery progress and future opportunities. Dixon offered a national perspective on the trends reshaping urban centers.
Dixon’s comments began with the heights and moved quickly to how downtown could get there.
The heights? Dixon offered a vision that replaced an office-centric core headlined by major corporate offices with a genuine live/work/play/gather…and innovate ecosystem whose lively public realm fostered engagement that turned strangers into neighbors.
How could downtown get there? By collaborating across all sectors of the downtown community to build on already visible strengths—its neighborhoods, public spaces, cultural institutions, performance venues, sports venues, and its authenticity—to attract the significant new housing that would partner with workplaces to drive a new era of downtown growth. In turn, this housing—far more than the office workers no longer coming downtown—would attract a new generation of unique places to eat, drink, and gather. And in turn, these amenities would attract the idea economy talent, jobs, and investment that will represent the source of economic growth going forward.
“Downtown vitality grows from bringing people together—through walkable places, strong connections, welcoming public spaces, and an authentic expression of community.” — David Dixon, FAIA
Placemaking for Downtown Community
Dixon finished his remarks with four urban design qualities that form the armature for a live/work/play/innovate downtown:
Walkability made real with density that supports the amenities like places to eat, drink, and gather that invite people to walk and the design that ensures that storefronts animate adjacent sidewalks and street trees provide shade.
Connectivity characterized by short walks that link people to where they live, work, play, and to each other, as well as places and activities that bring people together across many lines of diversity.
A public realm that extends from places of quiet reflection to places that proactively invite the entire community to gather together.
Authenticity that celebrates the full spectrum of communities’ stories and living cultures.
