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Muncie, IN
CANNON COMMONS
The Cannon Commons lighting revitalizes a beloved downtown gathering space by transforming existing infrastructure into a durable yet creative lighting system that enhances safety, supports community events, and demonstrates environmental and social sustainability through creative reuse and local collaboration.
2021-2023
Flatland Resources updated and installed revitalized lighting that provides this downtown green space with visibility and safety, paired with vibrance and art.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Cannon Commons is a well-known downtown Muncie park space that functions as a performance space, including the 3 Trails Music Series, event lawn, recreational greenspace, and community gathering area. The original park design included innovative lighting features powered by wind and solar energy. These lighting structures were not only an art installation, but also provided nighttime visibility and safety.
However, after many years of outdoor exposure, these custom lighting features required substantial or complete replacement. The original manufacturer was no longer in business, which meant that replacement parts were no longer available or cost-effective.
In 2021, the Ziegler Foundation hired Flatland Resources through the City of Muncie to re-envision the lighting at Cannon Commons. Design goals were oriented around providing a creative, reliable, and cost-effective lighting solution, while adhering to a conceptual design provided by Jeanne Zeigler. In an effort to minimize wasted material and thus minimize cost, Flatland reused and recycled the existing fixtures, connecting them to the power grid to improve their long-term durability. Local artists, contractors, and manufacturers were relied on to provide the redesigned and refinished lighting components and signage.
The completed fixtures were constructed in-house and installed with the existing infrastructure, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing, low-cost, low-impact update to Canon Commons. By repurposing existing materials and engaging local partners, the project demonstrates the importance of not just environmental sustainability, but social sustainability as well. The newly updated and installed lighting provides this downtown green space with visibility and safety, paired with vibrance and art.
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BEFORE
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AFTER
PROJECT PERSONNEL
PHIL
project lead
KURT
project manager
+ designer
The folks at FlatLand took a basic concept sketch I had created and knew how to express my idea in a real-world form. I am so pleased to see these lights when attending the 3-trails Music Series concerts every summer.
- Jeanne Zeigler, Zeigler Foundation/Artist
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