Indianapolis is a city in transformation. The growing capital has a population of more than 800,000 at the center of a region of 2 million. Indianapolis is in the formational stages of transit-oriented land use and design policies, revitalizing neighborhoods and recovering industrial river edges for habitat and recreational purposes.
At its core is the original 1821 plan by Alexander Ralston, a protégé of El Enfante (the designer of Washington, DC), which radiates from Monument Circle. This capital city with a French-inspired plan has evolved into a city of monuments, walkable downtown neighborhoods, and waterways.
Indianapolis is an affordable and livable city offering a car-free downtown lifestyle for students. There is an active nightlife, and the city sponsors numerous cultural and sporting events, downtown shopping, restaurants, clubs, and cultural facilities. It has become a national leader in sponsoring amateur sporting events and is the home of the Indianapolis Colts—the NFL’s 2007 Super Bowl champions—and the NBA’s Indiana Pacers.
Students also benefit from our established working relationships with professional organizations, local public agencies, and community-based organizations in the city. Members of the American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, and American Society of Landscape Architects serve as mentors for MUD students. The city’s Department of Community Development, local community development corporations, and nonprofits have served as patrons and partners with Ball State’s Community-Based Projects activities.
CAP Indianapolis Center
The MUD classrooms and studio are located with the College of Architecture and Planning Indianapolis Center (CAP:IC), which was established in 2000. CAP:IC carries on the college’s 45-year tradition of engaging communities in Indianapolis by providing planning, research, and educational services to public, nonprofit, and private sector partners in the city.