APDesign In the News

Kansas State University’s APDesign Celebrates National Recognition of El Dorado with The Architect’s Newspaper Best in Practice Honorable Mention

The College of Architecture, Planning & Design (APDesign) at Kansas State University is proud to announce that El Dorado, a design practice with deep ties to the region and to the academic community at K-State, has been posthumously awarded an Honorable Mention in the “Best in Practice, Medium-Sized Firm, Midwest” category by The Architect’s Newspaper.

This national recognition comes just months after El Dorado officially concluded its practice in April 2025. The honor acknowledges the firm’s enduring legacy and its thoughtful contributions to the built environment, with a particular emphasis on culture, education, and public well-being.

“El Dorado has long embodied the kind of design leadership and social responsibility that we strive to instill in our students,” said Professor and Dean Michael McClure of APDesign. “This recognition affirms the firm’s remarkable impact across the Midwest and beyond.”

A central figure in El Dorado’s legacy is David Dowell, AIA, a former principal of the firm and now Professor of Practice at APDesign. Dowell brings more than 30 years of experience to his teaching, with a collaborative portfolio that spans a wide range of scales, typologies, and geographies—always with a critical eye toward context and craft.

Dowell’s commitment to architectural education is equally significant. He has taught graduate studios at the Technical University in Dresden, the University of Kansas, Washington University in St. Louis, and Kansas State University. In 2011, he founded K-State’s acclaimed Design+Make Studio, an immersive, hands-on program that empowers students to engage with real clients and real construction challenges.

“At APDesign, we emphasize that architecture must be both intellectually rigorous and materially grounded,” said Dowell. “That ethos was central to El Dorado’s work and continues through the Design+Make Studio. This recognition is deeply meaningful as a reflection of both past practice and ongoing pedagogy.”

The College congratulates David Dowell and all former members of El Dorado for this well-deserved honor and for their lasting contributions to design excellence and architectural education.

APDesign's continued encouragement of faculty, staff and student participation in national and international events like these aligns with the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan's initiative to deliver impactful experiences through participation and interaction with the professional community.