Architecture 2015 Updates
JANUARY
The department held its spring faculty retreat on January 13 in the Leadership Studies Building. Agenda and discussion items included the upcoming NAAB accreditation, the MARCH and MSARCH programs and KCDC.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Architecture Chris Fein wrote a blog post for Kansas City At Home magazine as a contributing design blogger on Mid Century Modern Design. http://kcathome.com/Blogs/Annual-2015/What-is-Mid-century-Modern/
Christopher Fein was also interviewed by the Kansas City Star for the “House and Home” section, including three photos of design work on trends in home spa bath rooms. http://www.kansascity.com/living/home-garden/article8280918.html
Professor of Architecture Wendy Ornelas continued her membership on the 2015 Women’s Leadership Summit Planning Committee.
Prof. Ornelas was also interviewed by Architectural Products Magazine for an upcoming article on the NCARB Grant program as a jury chair.
Prof. Ornelas is continuing her sabbatical research.
Prof. Ornelas volunteered on the College of Architecture, Planning & Design’s Italian Studies Program.
Professor and Department Head of Architecture Matthew Knox attended an AIA Kansas board meeting on January 15 in Wichita at HTK Architects as a member of the board.
Prof. Knox also participated in the Career Exploration event on January 17 where over 50 high school students and their families visited Seaton to learn more about APDesign and the programs it offers.
Prof. Knox attended the K-State Teaching Workshop on January 30.
Prof. Knox delivered a presentation to first year students in APDesign on January 29 about the programs offered by the department.
Prof. Knox and Project Coordinator Kari Lindeen attended the K-State Working with Industry Boot Camp event on January 21.
Prof. Knox met with the Architecture Student Advisory Board January 29 to discuss student concerns and plan for events in the upcoming semester.
Assistant Professor of Architecture Judy Gordon gave a presentation to visitors at the Career Exploration event January 17.
Professor of Architecture Peter Magyar was invited to the graduate studio juries in the Dessau Institute of Architecture, at the Bauhaus. There were pre-thesis presentations in twelve different studios, among which he participate on eight of them.
FEBRUARY
Assistant Professor Genevieve Baudoin and her 5th year studio traveled to Los Angeles for their studio trip from February 5-9. The students presented their work to Bob Harris, FAIA, Hon. ASLA, professor emeritus and former dean of USC, David Gray, FAIA, a long time Los Angeles architect and professor, and 2014-15 Regnier Chair Steven Ehrlich at Ehrlich Architects’ offices. The students also heard a presentation by Ben Feldmann from Mia Lehrer Associates (the landscape architecture firm that has been instrumental in the planning process for the LA River Revitalization Plan). The students also visited key works of architecture in LA and traveled about half the LA River’s length visiting sites. Below are photographs Visiting Assistant Professor of Architecture Bruce Johnson took during the trip.
Professor and Department Head of Architecture Matthew Knox attended the AIA Pillars program as an invited panelist to review the state of architectural education at the Kansas City Design Center on Wednesday, February 25.
Associate Professor of Architecture Nathan Howe's fifth year Parametric Studio traveled to San Francisco in mid-February. The studio's focus this semester is to develop parametric methods to simulate, analyze and create progressive architectural buildings. Their research last semester lead them to choose San Francisco as their site because of its recent innovative history in the built environment along with its international leading technology industry. While in San Francisco the students presented their research at several architecture firms including HOK and SBJ creating a dialogue of the current use of parametric within the profession. This trip was critical in forming a complete understanding of the context they are designing within but also the importance that there research will have on the architectural landscape in the future. Below are photographs Howe took during the trip.
MARCH
For the 5th time since 2010, the annual 3rd-year architecture study tour returned to New York City and New Haven for a very rewarding tour of both historic and contemporary works of architecture. 63 students were led by 5 faculty (McGlynn, Wrightsman, Petty, Gordon, and Coates) on 5 walking tours across 2 cities in 4 days. We walked approximately 9 miles a day, saw over 100 buildings, perused 3 museums, and visited 1 architecture firm.
We began Monday afternoon with a walking tour of 42nd St., which included the Chrysler Building, the Ford Foundation, the NY Times Headquarters, and Times Square.
Tuesday morning was reserved for a visit to our one-artist museum site strategically located between SoHO, Little Italy, and Greenwich Village. Immediately following, we toured SoHO, walked along the edge of the Bowery to Cooper Sq. (Foster and Morphosis), and took the subway over to the Chelsea Market for lunch.
The highlight of the Meatpacking and Chelsea Districts was, of course, the High Line. Several years ago, this abandoned elevated rail line was converted into a park, which has sparked a great deal of development along its length from Gansevoort St. at the southern end (now home to the new Whitney Museum by Renzo Piano-not yet open) to 34th St. at the northern end. We got off early at 23rd St. to end the day at the Morgan Library and Museum in the Murray Hill neighborhood near our hotel. Here, Renzo Piano has stitched together three historic buildings designed by Charles McKim and Benjamin Wistar Morris for Pierpont Morgan (J.P.’s father). Pierpont’s private library was certainly a high point.
We took the Metro-North commuter train to New Haven on Wednesday. Following lunch at New Haven’s favorite pizzeria, Pepe’s, we took a tour of the infamous Arts & Architecture Building by Paul Rudolph. Imagine a time when the chair of the architecture department (Rudolph) could act as both architect and client for a new architecture building. Many were unhappy with the idea at the time and it would be untenable now. Right outside the door, we found Kahn’s Yale Gallery and Yale Center for British Art. While we did get to tour the Yale Gallery, the YCBA was unfortunately closed for renovation (a major disappointment). However, we did see the Beinecke Library aglow before the clouds blew in that afternoon. Science Hill included the Ingalls Rink (Saarinen), Kroon Hall (Hopkins), Kline Biology Tower (Johnson - early PoMo), and Yale School of Management (Foster). The walk back to the train station was rainy, although I heard that a few availed themselves of Uber (lazy!).
Thursday began with a walking tour of Midtown above Grand Central including Lever House (Bunshaft), Seagram (Mies), and Paley Park. We all went to MoMA before lunch. A not-to-be-missed art collection, but why, oh why, did they demolish the Folk Art Museum? Not that they care, but we’ll never forgive them. Each of the 5 studios went their separate ways for lunch and firm visits. Visits included Phifer, SHoP (almost), Grimshaw, and Smith-Miller + Hawkinson. For our part, we were given an excellent presentation of the work and tour of the office of Williams + Tsien. Clearly, one of the best firms practicing today. Internship, anyone? Our day, and the study tour, ended with a short subway ride up to Lincoln Center to see the Julliard School (Diller, Scofidio + Renfro) and the Harmony Atrium (Williams + Tsien). Down to about 6 of us by then, we dragged ourselves back to the hotel. As far as I know, we all made it back safely. Now it’s time to design a museum!
Professor of Architecture Susanne Siepl-Coates presented the paper “Embracing Green: The Healing Gardens at the Palliative Care Center” in Göttingen, Germany at the CELA 2015 Conference: incite CHANGE I CHANGE insight that took place on campus March 24-28, 2015.
Professor of Architecture Peter Magyar delivered the keynote address on March 7th at the International Architectural Convention in Budapest, Hungary.
APRIL
Assistant Professor of Architecture Michael Gibson traveled with 15 students from his fifth year architectural design studio to Des Moines, IA where they presented design proposals for a new library branch for the Des Moines Public Library on March 12th. The studio has been collaborating with the Des Moines Public Library (DMPL) since December 2014 on the project. The DMPL has benefited from the students effort to research the project program, develop options for architectural form, conduct studies to confirm energy efficiency and sustainability, and dialogue about the various opportunities and challenges presented by four optional project sites. The students in the studio, in turn, are using an actual pre-project planning program that DMPL developed for the project, which they envision will be started in the next decade. The studio presented their work at the Central Library in downtown Des Moines and were joined by: DMPL Director Greg Heid, several library managers and administrators; Matt Anderson, the Assistant City Manager of Des Moines; Paul Mankins, Principal at Substance Architects; and several architects from Substance. The library retained posters of the student presentations and will continue to exhibit the work internally to generate a dialogue about the project and its relationship to community and architectural identity of the library.
The studio has also been working with BNIM, a Kansas City architecture firm, in support of the student's design process and design development. The studio has been funded by NCARB's Award for the Integration of Practice and Education.
Genevieve Baudoin, Assistant Professor of Architecture, along with her fifth year studio, hosted Steven Ehrlich – 2014–15 Regnier Chair – at the K-State campus from March 26-29. Steven participated in a mid review of the students’ work on Thursday, along with a 2.5-day intensive charrette from Friday to Sunday.
Architecture Professor David Seamon wrote an introductory catalogue entry for Australian landscape artist Sue Michael’s exhibition of paintings and photographs entitled “Mid Northern,” which runs from April 8-May 1, 2015, at the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery on the City West campus of the University of South Australia in Adelaide. Michael is a doctoral student in art at this university, and Seamon is an external member of Michael’s dissertation committee.
Professor and Department Head of Architecture Matthew Knox attended the 103rd annual Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture conference “The Expanding Periphery and the Migrating Center” in Toronto, Canada March 18-21. He also attend the Kansas University Symposium Studio 804 event March 28th along with Associate Professor of Architecture Nathan Howe, David Dowell of el dorado architects, Professor of Architecture Vladimir Krstic and Timothy Tse, a fifth year archiecture student.
Assistant Professor of Architecture Judy Gordon’s abstract for the paper titled “Palatable Spaces” for the Material in Action conference at the Glasgow School of Art in September. The paper will describe the detailing of unusual materials and the resulting experiences of three rural projects: the Glass Chapel, the Yancey Tire Chapel and the Yancey Carpet House.
Assistant Professor of Architecture Bruce Wrightsman’s paper “The Structures Problem” was accepted to the 2015 Building Technology Educators Society International Conference in Salt Lake City in June.
Assistant Professor Michael Gibson presented the paper entitled “Designed for Performance: A Collaborative Research Studio Rethinks the Environmental Integration, Materiality, and Manufacturing of Curtain Wall Systems” at the Future of Architectural Research Conference -- the annual conference of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium. The conference was hosted in Chicago from April 6th to 9th. Professor Gibson's presentation and paper shared research progress from his fifth year architectural studio involving the performance of architectural glass curtain walls, including details related to the studio's collaboration with Manko Window Systems and BNIM Architects.
Michael Gibson, assistant professor of architecture, spoke at the National Institute of Building Science's BEST4 Conference which took place in Kansas City from April 13th to 15th. The Conference, whose full title is The Building Enclosure Science and Technology Conference, brings together practicing engineers and architects with expert researchers and product manufacturers, was attended by nearly 400 participants. Professor Gibson's presentation and paper, entitled "Cool Skins: Materials and Assemblies for Light-Weight Building Envelopes in Warm Climates," presented research work conducted in 2013 on the benefits of ventilated building cladding for buildings in hot areas, the impact of particular material and assemblies for these cladding systems, and a methodology for evaluating the systems using computer simulation.
Professor of Architecture Peter Magyar published six books as part of the "Pen Zen Diaries."
MAY
The class of approximately 104 students, jointly from Structure Systems in Architecture I (ARCH 347), Bruce Wrightsman, Assistant Professor, and Building Construction Systems in Architecture 1 (ARCH 433), Judy O'Buck Gordon, Assistant Professor, had the opportunity to visit the construction site of 1800 Kimball Avenue, the future location of the KSU Foundation, on May 5, 2015. Katherine Gallagher, Staff Architect and Eric Rush, Lead Architect during Construction Administration, Mark Pfeil, Project Manager and Sean Heiman, Project Architect of Hoefer Wysoki Architects accompanied the class on a walk-through and answered questions before, during and after during the tour. Katherine Gallagher and representative from Hutton Construction and GE Johnson gave a short presentation outlining the project, project team responsibility and shared materials samples with the class. The visit was made possible by Katherine Gallagher, Associate, AIA of Hoefer Wysocki Architecture and 2013 graduate of the Architecture Program and was organized by Professors Bruce Wrightsman and Judy O'Buck Gordon. Hardhats and safety glasses were provided by the College of Architecture and Hutton Construction.
The design+make el dorado fifth year architectural design studio taught by David Dowell held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their Alma Park + Pool Pavilion project on May 2, 2015. http://www.ksudesignmake.com/#!alma-city-park/c1w9t
Department Head Knox and Assistant Professor Bruce Wrightsman attended the AIA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia May 12-15, 2015. Wrightsman presented a paper during the “pre-convention” conference.
The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) K-State Chapter held the annual AIAS BBQ on May 10, 2015 at the Longs Park in Manhattan, Kansas. All college faculty, staff and students were invited to attend.
The 2015 Heintzelman + Kremer Fifth Year Design Competition was held on Friday, May 8th at 1 p.m. in the Pierce Commons. The winners were announced at 6:30 pm at the ‘Take 5’ event hosted by the AIAS at the Strecker-Nelson Gallery at 406 Poyntz Avenue. Jurors this year are Jay Siebenmorgen Principal of NBBJ, Renee Chow Principal of Studio URBIS and Professor at the University of California Berkley, Katie Gerfen Executive Editor of Design of Architect magazine and Mick McConnell Director of Architecture and Design of Chipotle Mexican Grill.The hosting of jurors and events is generously underwritten each year by John Davidson, Jr. (’87) of Davidson Architecture + Engineering in Lenexa, Kansas. The Heintzelman Prize is awarded annually for outstanding individual design achievements by students in the final semester of the professional master of architecture degree program. The Kremer Prize is awarded for outstanding collaborative design achievements by students in the final semester of the professional master of architecture program. The Heintzelman prize is named after J. Cranston Heintzelman, a long-time educator in the Department of Architecture. After earning a Master of Architecture from Columbia University, Heintzelman moved to Manhattan, Kansas, in 1947 to begin what became a distinguished career teaching architectural design, sculpture and design theory. The Heintzelman Prize has been awarded by the faculty each year since Heintzelman’s retirement in 1983. The Kremer prize is named after Eugene Kremer, a long-time member and head of the Department of Architecture. As an educator and advisor, Kremer fostered in thousands of students a passion for learning and a desire to achieve excellence in all areas of responsibility. While working tirelessly throughout his tenure to promote strong and lasting relationships between practicing architects and the college’s students, Kremer also endeavored to create opportunities to engage students in collaborative activities, both on and off campus. Dain Susman of Assistant Professor Genevieve Baudoin’s studio took home the Heintzelman Prize. The el dorado design+make studio taught by Architect David Dowell took home the Kremer Prize.
Assistant Professor of Architecture Michael Gibson received the Treanor Architects Faculty Award by the College of Architecture, Planning and Design for best exemplifying the tie between practice and the academy for his work with Manko Window Systems, BNIM, PGAV Architects and other professionals through fifth year architectural design studio “Curtain Wall Studio: Innovation in Curtain Wall Assembly Systems.”
A hands-on Masonry and Hardscape demonstration was held in the service yard of Seaton Hall for the 104 students of the Building Construction Systems in Architecture 1 (ARCH 433) class taught by Judy O'Buck Gordon, Assistant Professor in Architecture. Peter Browning of Salina Concrete, with the Kansas Masonry Industries Council, organized this opportunity for the students to participate in the building of a concrete masonry units (CMU) wall and see a demonstration of hardscape products. Frank Bauer of Kansas Building Products led the demonstration with the help of assistants. The students commented that it made a difference to actually see and touch the trowel, mortar and blocks. They also said that laying the CMU was so much more difficult than they ever imagined! The experience of the “making” aspects of architecture fosters the students understanding of the human aspect of architecture and helps them realize that human beings are the makers, as well as, the inhabitants of architectural projects.
Assistant Professor Genevieve Baudoin’s book Interpreting Site: Studies in Perception, Representation, and Design was published through Routledge Press in the UK on April 30, and will be available in the US on June 10. Interpreting Site examines the basic methods architects use to translate perceptions to the representation of complex conditions that physically and mentally "construe" a site, helping to shape the ultimate design. It is available on Amazon.com and the Routledge Press website.
The Regnier Studio, taught by 2014-15 Regnier Chair Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, RIBA, and KSU Asst Professor Genevieve Baudoin, have published a book outlining the studio’s work with funding from Victor Regnier and his family.
Professor of Architecture Peter Magyar was inducted as a member of the Hungarian Academy of Arts and Letters and delivered an inagural speech at the Academi of Science in Budapest.
