Tenley Kirkendoll | Graduation Year: 2025 | Assistant Professor Kendra Kirchmer and Instructor Richard Thompson

Inspired by the Kansas state bird, the Western Meadowlark, Ascension creates an experience where the user transitions from a grounded, nesting element to a contrasting light and floating element. To strengthen the connection between the design and inspiration, multiple details were implemented to create one, cohesive design. Two key details are the yellow-stained glass and tall grass that dominate the design. The glass's intended purpose to accentuate the light and shadow of the space, while also incorporating the yellow pull color from the Meadowlark. The tall grass not only spatially extends the exterior into the interior, but also giving the allusion of being the meadowlark nesting in the ground. These design moves were intentional to give the user a feeling of taking off, or ascending from one space to another.