J. Irwin Miller, who established the Cummins Foundation and brought world-class architects to Columbus, Indiana to design public buildings, believed that “The influence of the architecture with which we are surrounded in our youth affects our lives, our standards, our tastes when we are grown, just as the influence of the parents and teachers with which we are surrounded in our youth affects us as adults.” As the Bartholomew County Consolidated School Corporation embarked on renovations for the Harry Weese-designed Linda C. Schmitt Elementary School, the Landmark Columbus Foundation engaged a committee of design and preservation experts including Deborah Berke and Theo Prudon to review schematic designs. Jessica Thorpe served on the committee and led the development of a report documenting findings and recommendations.