APDesign History
Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design (APDesign) was established in 1963 by bringing together into one administrative unit the Departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Construction Science, Interior Architecture, and Regional & Community Planning.
The early founders of that coalition were very insightful, realizing that the practice of the design professions would involve multidisciplinary efforts. Housing these programs in a single college enabled students to better understand the roles and relationships of the disciplines that comprised the design of the built environment. This combination of design and planning received national attention as a model organization for education in the design, planning and management of the environment.
Today, APDesign continues to be a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, environmental design college with accredited professional programs in Architecture, Interior Architecture & Product Design, Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning. APDesign's design programs have been consistently ranked by DesignIntelligence magazine as among the best in the nation.
APDesign is proud to offer this multidisciplinary education, which reflects the nature of the professions APDesign serves and contributes to our students' successes.
- 1863: Kansas State University is established.
- 1878: Landscape Gardening course series first offered.
- 1903: A formally organized four-year curriculum in Architecture is initiated. It is among the first in the U.S. to earn professional accreditation.
- 1934: Landscape Gardening becomes an area of study in the Department of Horticulture within the College of Agriculture.
- 1941: A formal Landscape Architecture curriculum is established.
- 1957: The Master of Regional & Community Planning (MRCP) degree is established.
- 1961: The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning and the American Institute of Certified Planners first recognizes the MRCP.
- 1963: The College of Architecture & Design is formed. Emil Fischer is named dean.
- 1964: The Landscape Architecture program is accredited.
- Early 1970s: The Interior Architecture program begins. It is one of first to be recognized by the Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research.
- Early 1970s: The Department of Environmental Design is formed to provide a common, two-year, introductory undergraduate program.
- 1971: Bernd Foerster is named dean.
- 1980: The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) degree is accredited.
- 1984: Mark Lapping is named dean.
- 1989: Lane Marshall is named dean.
- 1990: Environmental Design is changed to one-year program of study. The undergraduate enrollment cap of 725 and selective admission are established.
- 1993: The Department of Regional & Community Planning merges with the Department of Landscape Architecture.
- 1993: The College's name changes from College of Architecture & Design to College of Architecture, Planning & Design.
- 1995: Dennis Law is named dean.
- 2002: The Department of Interior Architecture changes its name to the Department of Interior Architecture & Product Design.
- 2003: The Department of Architecture celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Architecture curriculum at K-State.
- 2006: Bachelor degree programs converted to non-baccalaureate Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture & Product Design and Master of Landscape Architecture. An interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Environmental Design & Planning is added as well.
- 2007: Regional & Community Planning program celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- 2009: Tim de Noble is named dean.
- 2013: APDesign celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- 2015: Construction begins on the New Seaton Hall Revitalization and Expansion.
- 2017: Seaton and Regnier Halls Dedication
- 2020: New Master of Industrial Design offered at K-State
- 2022: New Bachelor's of Science offered in Real Estate + Community Development
- 2023: Michael McClure, FAAR, AIA is named Dean
Brief History:
1963
- Professor Emil Fischer obtained favorable commitments to include Interior Architecture in the proposal for the College of Architecture and Design
1964
- Board of Regents passes unanimously the proposal for the College of Architecture and Design with the inclusion Interior Architecture
- Professor Jack C Durgan was appointed to supervise the discipline of Interior Architecture
1974
- The Interior Architecture program is one of the first to be recognized by the Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research
2000 - 2002
- The Department of Interior Architecture changes it name to the Department of Interior Architecture and Product Design
2006
- The Bachelor degree programs are converted to non-baccalaureate Master of Architecture, Master of Interior Architecture and Product Design and Master of Landscape Design