CNO District Design Competition

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District Design Competition for CNO Neighborhood Redevelopment

The 2025 Site Redevelopment and Public Space Design Competition hosted by the City of Carmel, Indiana, Department of Economic Development.

This is a multi-phase design competition to discover and promote outstanding public design ideas that will inform the winning master plan for the creation of a vibrant, attractive and sustainable downtown neighborhood in Carmel.

Under the theme "Carmel's Next Great Neighborhood", the competition invites innovative design proposals for an 80+ acre site designated the CNO Neighborhood Redevelopment District located east of US highway 31 and bounded by: City Center Drive to the north, Congressional Drive (east and south) and Pennsylvania Street (west). Parcels included in this effort are delineated in Exhibit 'A'

Three (3) design teams were invited to submit a conceptual design concepts for the District with supporting site amenity and architectural imagery. A winning team will be awarded the opportunity to proceed to contract for detailed design development of their master plan concept including design of key public elements approved by the City.

Teams will submit visionary design concepts with a strong emphasis on exceptional placemaking, advanced sustainability, and innovative public infrastructure. Each submission must present at least one design concept that incorporates a potential event center/hotel as a core element, and another that does not. The overall master plan submittal will provide a robust, connected urban fabric with an appropriate mix of land uses, a connected street grid and trail network, public plaza areas and park space.

Concept submittals for each team can be viewed and commented on by the public through the official competition online portal thru Monday, August 11, 2025.

Feedback received from Community Engagement for the Carmel's Next Great Neighborhood can be seen here.

Click on the team logo's below to view more details from their Phase 1 project deliverables.

Phase 1 - Project Discovery and Concept Design

Project Discovery, July 9 - 18: Data collection and analysis will be completed to prepare the design teams with the understanding needed to effectively plan and design the Project.

During their discovery phase, teams could utilize any relevant existing documentation to support the master planning effort. This includes, but is not limited to, zoning studies, transportation and mobility plans, sustainability plans, existing condition studies, and park amenities documentation.

Concept Design, July 18 - 30: Following discovery the Design Teams will initiate design of their Project Master Plan options.

Presentation, July 30: Preliminary plans will be presented in person to the Oversight Stakeholder Group (OSG) for feedback and refinement. Presentation location at the Carmel Redevelopment Commission conference room.

OSG Members:

Teresa Ayers, Council Representative, North Central District

Matt Snyder, Council Representative, At-large

Rich Taylor, Council Representative, At-large

Mike Hollibaugh, Director, Department of Community Services

Michael Klitzing, Executive Director, Carmel Clay Department of Parks & Rec.

Henry Mestetsky, Director, Redevelopment Department

Brad Pease, City Engineer

Nick Weber, Chief of Staff

Lane Young, Director of Carmel Utilities

Phase 1 Deliverables:

Rendered site concept layout
Rendered character sketches
Inspiration image package and narrative
Open space and pedestrian plan
Street grid layout and connectivity plan
Land use and density study

Phase 2 - Public Input and Refined Concept Design

Public Input, August 4 - 11: The design teams will upload their concept design packages into the 'Public Input Portal' where Carmel residents will be allowed to provide comments to key visionary and public elements of the plan.

Master Plan 'display stations' will also be set-up at the Carmel Clay Public Library, Monon Community Center, and Carmel City Hall with QR code interface allowing direct interaction with the Public Input Portal.

Concept Refinement, August 11 - 18: Concept design and details for the District will be refined based upon relevant public input.

Phase 3 - Design Jury, August 21

Phase 4 - Award, August 22