We’re proud to share that Bailey Weiler Design + Build and our co-founder Don Weiler are featured in the April/May 2025 issue of Bloom Magazine, spotlighting our work on The Kiln—the first privately owned building in Bloomington’s fast-growing Trades District.
Located in a once-abandoned factory space that formerly housed Showers Brothers Furniture, The Kiln has been thoughtfully restored and reimagined into a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
“There were some parts where the brick façade had started to collapse, and there were vines growing all over it,” Don recalls in the article. “But if you took a step back and looked at the building as a whole, you’re like, ‘Alright, this was something back in the day.’”
A Bold Vision for the Trades District
Bailey-Weiler took on the project in 2019, with the goal of creating something meaningful and lasting. Working with local partners—including Soma Coffeehouse & Juice Bar owner Bob Costello, Paragraph entrepreneur twins Mike Troxte and Brad Wisler, and Burton Properties owner Shawn Eurton—Don and the team invested $2.2 million to bring the long-abandoned building back to life.
The result: Kiln Collective LLC, a modern commercial workspace that blends the site’s industrial heritage with contemporary function, including sleek metal beams, large transparent windows, and private office spaces for growing businesses.
“It really was a collective effort of sweat equity,” Don shared. “Otherwise, it would have cost a lot more.”
A Graduation Space for Startups
The Kiln stands as a testament to community-driven development and smart, purposeful design. Unlike other projects in the area, it is fully privately owned, and aims to be a “graduation space” for startups ready to plant roots.
“If one of the businesses shuts down or moves out, then the other businesses have the opportunity to expand into it, or the shares of the owner need to be sold to a new tenant,” Don explains. “That’s kind of the idea: It’s an owner-occupied, local business–driven entity.”
With five units, The Kiln offers flexibility for maturing startups to transition from shared coworking spaces into permanent office homes.
Reimagining Work + Community
At Bailey Weiler Design + Build, we see The Kiln as more than just a renovation project—it’s a vibrant piece of Bloomington’s future. It brings together people, purpose, and place, offering a space where professionals can grow, collaborate, and contribute to the broader community.
“We see The Kiln as a place where workers in the Trades District can one day relax and mingle, stopping by for a coffee at Soma and enjoying their drink in a shaded courtyard on West 11th Street,” Don says.
We’re honored to be recognized in Bloom Magazine for our efforts to preserve the past while building for the future. The Kiln represents the core of what we do at Bailey-Weiler: designing with purpose, building with care, and investing in our community.
Ready to reimagine your next commercial space?
Connect with the Bailey-Weiler team today to talk about how we can bring your vision to life—whether it’s revitalizing an industrial landmark or designing your dream office from the ground up.
