The City of Columbus and ColumBUS Transit are advancing their collaborative effort with Indiana University’s J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program within the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, and Indianapolis-based fabricator Ignition Arts thanks to a READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grant from the State of Indiana.

This week, Gov. Mike Braun announced $369.6 million in READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants statewide. The City of Columbus and ColumBUS Transit received $329,940 in READI 2.0 funds to construct three artistic bus shelters. The shelters will follow the design approach established with the bus shelter on Herman Darlage Drive at NexusPark. That shelter was designed and developed in 2024 by students in the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program under the guidance of professor Lucas Brown and features Paul Rand’s iconic “Dancing Cs” design. The shelter was installed in 2025.

A write-up about the project on a list of projects awarded grants states that the ongoing partnership integrates architectural innovation, public art, and transit infrastructure, aiming to enhance quality of place and reinforce Columbus’s legacy of architectural and design excellence. Each shelter will serve as both functional infrastructure and public artwork, making design-forward experiences accessible to residents and visitors across a wide socio-economic range.

Students in the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program have played a central role in the collaborative process, engaging extensively with community stakeholders and participating in the design and fabrication of the initial prototype. A second prototype will be created in partnership with Ignition Arts near the city’s popular Visitor’s Center, further expanding experiential learning opportunities.

The READI 2.0 funding will strengthening the transit system’s unique visual identity while further elevating Columbus’s reputation as a nationally recognized center for architecture, art, and design innovation.

The acronym READI stands for Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative. You can see the full list of projects awarded READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants here.