Main Street Housing, Downtown South Bend, Indiana

The Belvedere: A New Traditional Mixed-Use Building in Downtown South Bend

Published in April 2025

Case Study Overview

New growth in downtown South Bend, including major projects such as the Morris Performing Arts Center expansion and the University of Notre Dame’s adaptive reuse of the South Bend Tribune Building, has created a need for additional housing and parking. Great buildings define the identity of a place. While we benefit from the civic gifts of past generations, it is our responsibility to continue this legacy by creating buildings for generations we will never meet. This mixed-use building demonstrates that it is possible to design a place-based structure which both draws from and contributes to South Bend’s rich heritage and sense of place.

Current Status

Architect of record engaged to produce construction drawings; projected groundbreaking in 2026.

Aerial View of the Proposal

The proposed buildings complete the block and wrap a major corner in downtown South Bend.

Urban Proposal

The corner of Main Street and Colfax Avenue, behind the Morris Performing Arts Center, is at the heart of downtown South Bend. Historically, this was a complete block of attached mid-rise buildings; some remain, and some have been replaced by parking lots. This proposal restores the site to an intact block, with buildings of a scale that complements other historic buildings in the area. These buildings activate the block rather than overwhelming it, with a variety in massing and material and continuous ground floor retail.

Building Design

This design incorporates patterns inspired by historic buildings in downtown South Bend; in particular, the southmost building references South Bend's Commerce Center. The massing modulations, wall-to-window ratios, materials, and details are all compatible with nearby structures. Four distinct facades bring variety to the street, and are united at the human scale by meeting the sidewalk with retail. A large parking garage contributes to the street with an active ground floor and attractive facade.