EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

Director of the Kansas City Design Center, a Professor of Practice position

The College of Architecture, Planning, and Design at Kansas State University invites applications for the Director of the Kansas City Design Center, a Professor of Practice position beginning as early as the fall semester 2024. Located in the heart of downtown Kansas City, the Kansas City Design Center (KCDC) is a nationally recognized, multi-disciplinary, service-learning design center that operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit partnership among local civic leaders, professional designers, and the design programs at Kansas State University. The incoming director will have the unique opportunity to leverage KCDC's strong foundation to establish a vision that shapes the center’s future. The Director & Professor of Practice Position is a full-time, 12-month appointment consisting of 50% teaching, 30% administration, and 20% service directed towards the efforts of KCDC, housed in the Dean’s Office in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design (APDesign) reappointed annually by the Dean. Salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications.
Position Description

 

K-State students shine in prestigious Steelcase NEXT design competition

Two students from the interior architecture and industrial design program in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design, or APDesign, and one student from the interior design program in the College of Health and Human Sciences at Kansas State University have achieved remarkable success in the prestigious Steelcase NEXT design competition. Out of 1,400 participating students, these talented individuals have secured their place in the top 28, showcasing their exceptional skills and creativity.

The students are Maia Smith, Interior Architecture, Sedalia, Missouri; Lily Turner, interior architecture, Overland Park; and Kayla Bonczkowski, interior design Oswego, Illinois.

Smith's project, "NEXT Architecture," redefines the workplace by drawing inspiration from the dynamic nature of the work cycle and the five stages that encompass the workday: focus, learning, collaboration, socialization and rejuvenation. By seamlessly integrating spaces that support each stage, "NEXT Architecture" allows for the full customization of the work experience, fostering a sense of belonging, autonomy, motivation and purpose for its workers. The project utilizes color, volume and rounded forms to promote smooth transitions and flow, envisioning "NEXT Architecture" as the workplace of the future. Smith is mentored by Michelle Wempe, professor of practice, APDesign FULL STORY

Leading Educators: Q&A with Michael McClure

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It’s the start of the 2023–24 academic year, so that means a new crop of leaders are beginning the semester. To check in, AN spoke with a set of leading educators about their roles. Each answered a septet of questions; the seventh in this series is, Michael McClure, new dean of Kansas State’s College of Architecture, Planning & Design.

What are your goals and ambitions for your new role?

My immediate goals are to get to know the people, programs, and aspirations of the College better so that I can join the team already in place. That understanding of where we are and where we are going is the foundation for meaningful and impactful leadership. To envision a more vibrant future, we must start with a base understanding. My goal is to provide leadership that is collaborative, participatory, and visionary.

My ambitions for the College are that we work together to leverage our current success towards an even more vibrant future. I’m ready to fully engage with the University’s Next Generation Land Grant initiative. We will continue to work towards even more vibrant, inclusive, and socially involved design professions. [Full Story]

APDesign Introduces the Strautman Family Fellowship

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The College of Architecture, Planning & Design at Kansas State University is delighted to announce the establishment of the Strautman Family Fellowship, a transformative initiative by John and Kate Strautman that is dedicated to supporting students in each department within the college.

The Strautmans have committed to providing at least one fifth-year fellowship for students in each department, emphasizing a dual focus on financial need and personal characteristics. To qualify, recipients must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate qualities that align with the values cherished by the Strautmans themselves: integrity, hard work ethic, intelligence, energy, motivation, quality and perseverance.

John — a 1985 graduate of the landscape architecture program in AP Design — and Kate attribute their success to these very qualities. By establishing the Strautman Family Fellowship, they aim to give back to the college and invest in the next generation of leaders who embody these fundamental principles.

The fellowship comes at a critical juncture, providing essential support to students facing financial challenges while pursuing their fifth-year professional master’s degrees. The recipients will not only benefit from financial assistance but also gain recognition for their commitment to excellence in their academic pursuits and personal qualities.

In addition to the Strautman Family Fellowship, the couple has further solidified their commitment to the college by establishing the Strautman Family Chair in Land Conservation and Stewardship. This endowed chair, outlined in their estate plans, will support a distinguished faculty member whose research focuses on land conservation and environmental stewardship.

The Strautmans’ philanthropic efforts are poised to make a significant impact on the college, reinforcing its position as the premier land-grant design college in the nation.

“We are immensely grateful to John and Kate Strautman for their generous commitment to the College of Architecture, Planning & Design,” said Michael McClure, professor and dean of APDesign. “The Strautman Family Fellowship and the Strautman Family Chair in Land Conservation and Stewardship are invaluable contributions that will elevate the educational experience for our students and advance the college’s mission.”

As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance K-State.

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