When you walk through downtown Indianapolis, chances are you’re passing by a project touched by Cornelius “Lee” Alig. A sixth-generation Hoosier and lifelong Indianapolis resident, Alig has been building and reshaping the city for more than 40 years. From an Office Tower to residential neighborhoods and civic spaces, his work blends architecture, planning, and a sharp understanding of how cities grow.
“I’ve always believed architecture should serve the community,” he says. “Good design can change how people live and interact.”
Early Life and Education
Alig was born in 1955 and grew up on the north side of Indianapolis. He was the oldest of four kids. His father was a banker and horse enthusiast. His mother stayed at home and loved gardening. “My mom had an eye for beauty. She just used flowers instead of bricks,” he says.
He graduated from Park Tudor School in 1973, where he wrestled and played soccer. Alig studied architecture at Tulane University in New Orleans. He served as Student Body President and received the Alpha Rho Chi Medal for leadership and service.
After Tulane, he earned a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Planning at Columbia University in New York. “Living in New York changed my view of cities. I saw how scale, transit, and design all worked together,” he recalls.
Early Career
Alig returned to Indianapolis in the early 1980s and co-founded HDG Architects, now known as Ratio. The firm focused on urban projects and public spaces. But he had his sights on something bigger: real estate development.
In 1982, he co-founded Mansur Real Estate Services. Over 30 years, he grew it into a company with over 100 employees. “I wanted to build things, not just design them,” he says. “I wanted to take ideas from paper to reality.”
Building the City
Alig and his team were behind some of the biggest projects in Indianapolis:
- Market Tower, a 32-floor office high-rise downtown.
- Lockerbie Marketplace, a mixed-use development of shops and offices.
- Fall Creek Place, a neighborhood of over 300 homes that won a national award from the Urban Land Institute.
- The Omni Severin Hotel renovation and expansion.
He also led the redevelopment of two major corporate headquarters—Anthem Insurance, from a former department store on Monument Circle, and Farm Bureau Insurance, from a former tire factory. ‘We took an old department store and turned it into a modern HQ,’ he explains. ‘It was adaptive reuse before it became a buzzword.'”
Civic Involvement
Alig wasn’t just working in the private sector. He was also shaping public policy.
In the early 2000s, he was named Vice Chairman of the Regional 2020 Plan under Mayor Bart Peterson. He also served as Chairman of the Governor’s Residence Commission under two Indiana governors. “These roles let me connect design to governance,” he says. “It’s about using design to improve civic life.”
He served on over 15 nonprofit boards, including the Indiana State Museum, WFYI Public Media, Indiana Landmarks, and the Tulane School of Architecture Board.
Still Designing, Still Talking
Alig now works as a self-employed architect through his firm Cornelius M. Alig, Indiana Architect. He still takes on residential and commercial projects.
But in recent years, he’s also taken to the airwaves. Since 2019, he’s hosted Design Minded Indiana, a radio program and podcast on WQRT 99.1 FM. The show features conversations with local designers, planners, and artists. “I’ve always wanted to make design more public,” he says. “This show lets people hear from the voices shaping our city.”
He’s produced more than 50 episodes. One recent interview featured a landscape architect who redesigned a downtown park. Another explored the role of color in public murals.
Giving Back
Alig stays active in his community. Helping plant over 3,000 trees around the city – every year. “It’s simple work, but it has real impact,” he says.
He also volunteers with Second Helpings, a hunger relief group that rescues unused food and turns it into hot meals. “It’s one of the most effective nonprofits I’ve seen,” he says.
He contributes to the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis as a volunteer writer. “It’s about preserving our civic memory,” he adds.
His long career has also brought many honors:
- Sagamore of the Wabash (Indiana’s highest civilian award)
- Urban Land Institute Award of Excellence
- IBJ Forty Under 40
- AIA Michigan Honor Award
- ARTI Award from the Arts Council of Indianapolis
Final Thoughts
Today, Alig is still drawing, still planning, and still thinking about the city’s future.
“I’ve never stopped learning,” he says. “Cities are living systems. You have to keep listening, keep responding.”
For those walking through Indianapolis, his legacy is in the buildings, the parks, and the stories behind them. His work is part of the city’s foundation, and its future.
Interview with Cornelius (Lee) Alig
You’ve worked on some major projects in Indianapolis. Which one are you most proud of?
Fall Creek Place stands out. It was a large-scale neighborhood redevelopment that brought people back into the city. Over 300 homes were built, and it won a national award. It wasn’t just about design, it was about community rebuilding.
What motivated you to move from architecture into real estate development?
I didn’t want to stop at drawings. I wanted to actually build. That meant getting into zoning, finance, land use, all the pieces that make a building real. Development gave me a way to control the full process from start to finish.
How did your time at Columbia and Tulane shape your approach to city planning?
Tulane taught me how to think like a designer. Columbia taught me how to think like a planner. Seeing how cities functioned in New York helped me understand the relationship between design and systems, like transit, density, and walkability.
What was it like working with city and state government on planning commissions?
It gave me a different view of responsibility. You’re not just working for a client, you’re working for the public. The decisions you make affect neighborhoods, traffic, parks, even the tone of a city.
What led you to start your podcast, Design Minded Indiana?
I wanted to make conversations about design more accessible. There are so many people doing important work, urban farmers, muralists, architects, but most folks don’t get to hear from them. The podcast fills that gap.
What advice would you give to young architects or planners starting out?
Get involved in your city. Go to public meetings. Volunteer. Design isn’t just about buildings, it’s about people, context, and purpose. The sooner you understand that, the better designer you’ll be.
