K-State Architecture

02/03/2026

2026 EKDAHL LECTURES

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Ekdahl Lectures!

UPDATE ON NEW LOCATION:

February 16 | Nader Tehrani- Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, Due 1109-Engineering Lecture Hall at 4:30 p.m.

Nader Tehrani is an internationally recognized architect and educator whose work pushes the boundaries of material innovation, tectonics, and the role of design in shaping contemporary culture. As Founding Principal of NADAAA, a practice spanning architecture, urbanism, interiors, and fabrication, Tehrani has earned a reputation for transforming complex constraints into inventive, construction-driven design solutions. His award-winning projects — including multiple architecture school buildings — demonstrate a powerful belief that the built environment can also serve as a pedagogical platform.

02/02/2026

Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, has selected Populous as the recipient of the 2026 Firm of the Year Award.

The Firm of the Year Award is presented annually to a design practice that has demonstrated exemplary leadership, a significant influence on the profession, and a strong partnership with APDesign and its students.

Populous was selected as the 2026 Firm of the Year based on the following areas of outstanding engagement:

Direct support for student scholarships
Faculty support and endowed leadership chairs
Recruitment, internships and full-time employment opportunities for APDesign graduates
Research collaboration and sponsorship
Professional mentorship and participation in academic initiatives

The award will be presented during a special reception at the 2026 Design Expo in Regnier Hall, bringing together students, faculty, alumni and industry partners to celebrate Populous' achievements and continued commitment to APDesign.

The distinguished honor from APDesign recognizes Populous' transformative impact on the built environment and its long-standing dedication to excellence, innovation and mentorship in the design profession.

09/16/2025

✨Big congratulations to graduate students Ethan Edington, Josue Ventura-Vasquez, Noah Kotlinski, and Shane Gallagher—all completing the final year of K-State’s five-year Master of Architecture program in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design (APDesign)—stood out among hundreds of entries submitted by students from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Their projects, guided by Professor Genevieve Baudoin, earned First Place and Honorable Mention in the competition’s Open Category, administered by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) and sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC).

Edington and Ventura-Vasquez captured First Place and a $4,000 prize, while Kotlinski and Gallagher received an Honorable Mention. Both projects will be showcased at the 2026 ACSA Annual Meeting and the 2026 AIA National Convention, and published on the ACSA and AISC websites, placing their work on a permanent stage of student design excellence for K-State.

09/11/2025

03/07/2025

College of Architecture, Planning & Design Honors BBN Architects as Firm of the Year

Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, has selected BBN Architects as the recipient of the 2025 Firm of the Year Award. This prestigious honor recognizes BBN Architects' outstanding contributions to the field of architecture and their enduring commitment to excellence, innovation and mentorship within the profession.

The Firm of the Year Award is given annually to an architectural firm that has demonstrated leadership in design, a significant impact on the built environment, and a strong partnership with the college and its students. BBN Architects has consistently exemplified these values, engaging in meaningful collaborations with APDesign and fostering the next generation of design professionals.

Congratulations, BBN Architects and thank you!

K-State's College of Architecture, Planning & Design recognizes BBN Architects' outstanding contributions to the field of architecture and their enduring commitment to excellence, innovation and mentorship within the profession.

12/16/2024

APDesign's Zhan Chen wins first place in Masonry Innovation Competition

Zhan Chen, assistant professor at Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, has been awarded first place in the 2024 Masonry Innovation Competition hosted by the International Masonry Institute, or IMI.

Chen's proposal, titled "Modular Ecologies: A Masonry System for Flood Control," earned top recognition and a $10,000 prize for its strategy in integrating flood control with ecological restoration and recreational possibilities.

Congratulations to you Zhan for your outstanding work and dedication to the College of Architecture, Planning & Design/Architecture!
https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=101365

12/13/2024

Architecture students receive scholarships in 13th annual MANKO Design Competition

Three Kansas State University graduate students in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, were honored with scholarships in the 13th annual MANKO Design Competition, sponsored by MANKO Window Systems, Inc. The awards were presented on Dec. 6 at Regnier Hall.

Chris Heintz, a fourth-year architecture student from Homer Glen, Illinois, received the competition's top honor and a $5,000 scholarship for his project, "Rocky Ford Event and Discover Center," developed in the fall 2024 design studio led by Brian Lee, assistant professor and competition coordinator.

Alex Cervantes-Garcia, a fourth-year architecture student from Olathe, received a $1,500 scholarship for his project, Tranquil Gardens, from Associate Professor Grant Alford's fall 2024 studio.

Jack Taliaferro, a fourth-year architecture student from O'Fallon, Missouri, earned a $1,000 scholarship for his project, Connection with Sustainability, created in Professor Michael McGlynn's fall 2024 studio.

https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=101361

12/11/2024

Architecture students compete in 26th annual Bowman Design Forum

The College of Architecture, Planning & Design's department of architecture at Kansas State University, held the 26th Bowman Design Forum on Dec. 4.

The forum, sponsored by BBN Architects since 1999, highlights the best work in Architectural Design Studio 3, the fall semester of the third-year students. One representative from each studio section — five nominees — presented their work to a jury of BBN architects and honored guest jurors James Graham and Maureen O'Leary of Graham Baba Architects, Seattle, Washington.

Students presented designs for a mixed-use, high-density housing project, conceived as an urban living environment with public and communal programs and designed open spaces, to be situated on a site in downtown Emporia.

The design process began with a series of analytical assignments, including site/context analysis, precedent study, unit aggregation studies and a master planning component.

The following students were awarded a total of $4,500 in prizes:

Tennyson Gray, Colorado Springs, Colorado, $1,500 Honor Award. Gray is a student in the studio of Michael Grogan, associate professor.

Nada Hatamleh, Amman, Jordan, $1,000 Special Merit Award. Hatamleh is a student in the studio of Kory Beighle, assistant professor.

Ella Schultz, Pratt, $1,000 Special Merit Award. Schultz is a student in the studio of Reese Greenlee, assistant professor.

Wyatt Potter, Brashear, Missouri, $500 Merit Award. Potter is a student in the studio of Carsten Boschen, instructor.

Evan Marley, Liberty, Missouri, $500 Merit Award. Marley is in the studio of Gabrielle Coleman, visiting assistant professor.

"Congratulations to the Bowman award winners," said Michael Grogan, coordinator of third-year architectural studios. "All the work was excellent and, I should add, many other terrific projects were developed in all five studio sections. This year's project represented a different type of programming challenge for this third-year studio. The diverse and engaging results are evidence that the students, across the board, were clearly up to the task!"

APDesign's continued encouragement of student participation in events like these aligns with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan to deliver impactful experiences through participation in regional and national competitions.

https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=101363

11/19/2024

Chris Fein, assistant professor of architecture in Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, has received two prestigious Merit Awards at the Historic Kansas City Design Awards held on Nov. 12. Fein, who is also the founding principal of Forward Design | Architecture, was honored for his work on two projects: the Corner House and the Regnier House.

The Corner House was recognized for its excellence in contemporary architecture in a historic context, highlighting Fein's skill in merging modern design within a historically significant neighborhood. This project was a complete remodel with multiple additions to an existing mid-century ranch, initially a small two-bedroom home. When Fein's clients approached him, they envisioned a temporary addition with plans to raze the house eventually. However, Fein saw potential in the house's unique architectural features, aligning with his firm's ethos of sustainable preservation. The project's design added several new elements — a bedroom, family room, screened porch, mudroom and entry — while retaining the character of the original structure. Four additions were strategically placed to unify the design and fulfill the client's needs, creating a cohesive blend of new and old. The design team paid particular attention to scale and aesthetic continuity.

The second award went to the Regnier House, a project with both personal and historical resonance. Built by Bob Regnier as his first home, this residence is a cherished part of Kansas City's architectural legacy. Fein's sensitive renovation modernizes the space while preserving its historic Tudor-Moderne style, a hallmark of the Westwood Hills Historic District. Focusing on two main areas — the kitchen and a newly created primary suite — Fein enhanced the home's functionality to meet the demands of a 21st-century residence without compromising its original charm.

Read the full article in the K-State Today https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=101039

11/06/2024

Congratulations to Dean Michael McClure and Urusula Emery McClure! 🎉

Michael McClure and Ursula Emery McClure have been named among America's Top 200 Residential Architects by Forbes magazine.

10/14/2024

The College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, at Kansas State University announces the 50th anniversary of the Ekdahl Lecture Series. The lectures will take place in Regnier Forum, Room 1117 of Regnier Hall on October 23rd and 24th.

Ekdahl, a K-State alumnus, graduated in 1933 with a Bachelor of Architecture. His dedication to excellence in architecture and design is embodied through this lecture series, which annually invites thought leaders from across the globe to share their expertise and vision.

For more information on lecture schedules please see
below:

The College of Architecture, Planning & Design announces the 50th anniversary of the Ekdahl Lecture Series. This milestone will be celebrated with a series of special lectures and a discussion ...