APDesign In the News

All APDesign Student Abstracts Accepted to International EDRA57 Conference Kansas State University students achieve 100% acceptance rate

MANHATTAN — The College of Architecture, Planning & Design (APDesign) at Kansas State University proudly announces that all student abstracts submitted to the Environmental Design Research Association’s EDRA57 Conference have been accepted, achieving a remarkable 100% acceptance rate.

The conference, titled Embracing Regional Sustainability: Network for People and Places, will be held May 27–30, 2026, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

APDesign students will present research developed through Design Research and Capstone Studio courses in the Department of Interior Architecture & Industrial Design. Their work was selected among more than 700 submissions from professionals, researchers and academics worldwide, highlighting the strength of Kansas State University’s research-driven design education.

“This extraordinary accomplishment speaks to the rigor of our studios and the intellectual leadership of our students,” said Michael McClure. “To achieve a 100% acceptance rate at a competitive international research conference underscores the strength of our design research culture and our commitment to advancing knowledge that improves people’s lives.”

Vibhavari Jani, who mentored the students and will also present at the conference, praised the students’ achievement.

“Our Interior Architecture students have consistently performed well and achieved great success at international and national conferences,” Jani said. “It was a joy to work with these very talented and dedicated young research scholars and designers. I am very proud of their work and research success. I know they will represent APDesign, IAID and K-State well at the EDRA57 Conference.”

The following student teams and projects will be presented at EDRA57:

Evidence-Based Approaches to Enhancing Mindfulness and Well-Being in Office Environments
Marissa Cart, Charlotte Faoro, Taylen Manns, Natalie Ostmeyer and Evion Ruff

Sustainability and Spectator Well-Being: Evidence-Based Approaches to Sports Facility Design
Jasmine Batres, Morgan Bratt, Kristen Hamel, Bailey Stretton and Madison Turner

In Transit, at Peace: Re-Imagining the Airport Experience through Biophilic Design
Natalie Hyde, Ella Figgins, Kristen Anders, Sienna Pargiter-Walker and Izzy Ross

Sustaining Student Well-Being through Biophilic and Placemaking Strategies in Campus Learning Environments
Matthew Abbott, Austin Phillips, Taylor Burg and Kate Jepse

Designing for Neurodiversity: Toward Sustainable and Inclusive Learning Environments in Higher Education
Faith McGown, Reagan Maxon, Lizzie Povich and Aaron Green

The Harvest Table: Designing a Community Center for Food Resilience and Social Sustainability
Sophia Burnett, Isaac Caire, Isabella Furioso and Jose Garcia-Renata

Cultivating Sustainable Design Thinking: A Reflective, Environment–Behavior–Informed Pedagogical Model
Vibhavari Jani

Participation in EDRA57 places APDesign students among global scholars exploring how environmental design can support sustainability, human well-being and resilient communities. The Environmental Design Research Association is internationally recognized for advancing interdisciplinary research connecting design, behavior and environmental quality.

For more information about the College of Architecture, Planning & Design at Kansas State University, visit apdesign.k-state.edu.