APDesign In the News

Excellence in Architectural Design Honored at Kansas State University with 2025 Heintzelman Prize

Murillo

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University’s College of Architecture, Planning & Design (APDesign) celebrated outstanding student design achievements on Friday, May 9, with the annual presentation of the Heintzelman Prize, the college’s most prestigious award for individual design excellence.

The 2025 Heintzelman Prize was awarded to Tom Murillo, Wichita, for his project “Genius Loci,” completed in the fifth-year design studio led by Associate Professor Grant Alford. Murillo’s work stood out among an exceptional pool of graduating Master of Architecture students for its depth, innovation, and sense of place.

Named in honor of J. Cranston Heintzelman, a distinguished educator who began teaching at Kansas State University in 1947, the Heintzelman Prize has recognized top student designers each year since his retirement in 1983. The award celebrates individual achievement in architectural design during the final semester of the Master of Architecture program.

This year’s jury included Mark Bacon, Principal at BVH Architecture; Steve Hardy, Associate Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Cody Knop, Principal at Knop Killeen Architects. Their selection of Murillo reflects the strength of his conceptual vision and execution.

In addition to the Heintzelman Prize, a $1,000 award in memory of Matthew Johnston, a 2013 APDesign graduate, was also presented. This award was generously donated by Clark | Huesemann Architects of Lawrence, Kansas, where Johnston practiced.

Ten graduating Master of Architecture students were nominated for the 2025 Heintzelman Prize, representing top work from each fifth-year design studio section:

  • Matthew Murphy — In/form(e), studio led by Associate Professor Grant Alford

  • Kylee O'Dell — Acts of Attachment: Social Infrastructure for Rewilding Chinatown, studio led by Assistant Professor Otto Chanyakorn

  • Miguel Perez — The only thing that is certain in Chinatown is change: Building community through urban agriculture, studio led by Assistant Professor Otto Chanyakorn

  • Crichton Hill — Shawnee Town 1929 Entry Building, studio led by Assistant Professor Chris Fein

  • Matt Wright — Showcase: 1929, studio led by Assistant Professor Chris Fein

  • Zach Gomel — Mary Soo Hoo Heritage Center, studio led by Associate Professor Michael Grogan

  • Joseph Winter — Mary Soo Hoo Interpretive Center, studio led by Associate Professor Michael Grogan

  • Sydney Tucker — The Urban Ecology Center, studio led by Professor Chad Schwartz

  • Mahlee Wohlford — Sensory Retreat for Inclusive Education, studio led by Professor Chad Schwartz

The College of Architecture, Planning & Design congratulates all nominees and celebrates their commitment to pushing the boundaries of architecture and design. Their work reflects the college’s dedication to fostering design excellence, innovation, and social responsibility in the built environment.