Source: Stephanie Rolley, 785-532-2444, srolley@k-state.edu
Note to editors: Lindsey Richardson is a graduate of Clearwater High School; and Lindsey Scheuneman is a graduate of Spring Hill High School.
Prepared by: Diane Potts, 785-532-1090, potts@k-state.edu
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
EXHIBITION FEATURES WORK BY K-STATE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS AND THEIR STUDY OF DOWNTOWN WICHITA
MANHATTAN -- Work from a study of downtown Wichita by landscape architecture students from Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning and Design is on display through Sept. 14 in Seaton Hall's Chang Gallery at K-State.
The free exhibition, "Wichita Redrawn," is available to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
As part of a summer 2007 community planning and design studio, 30 K-State landscape architecture students undertook an extensive and coordinated effort to study downtown Wichita. The exhibit displays a broad range of urban design proposals developed in the class that create a more sustainable and pedestrian friendly future for downtown Wichita.
Studio instructors were Tony Barnes and Stephanie Rolley, professors of landscape architecture and regional and community planning.
According to Rolley, students began their work by conducting an intensive investigation and inventory of downtown and the larger metropolitan area in conjunction with Wichita residents and decision-makers. Using the information compiled during that phase of the project, students identified a broad range of design-related issues and opportunities that currently exist downtown.
The entire class then participated in a design charrette in Wichita with community members, municipal employees and architects to evaluate the progress of the project and identify additional issues and opportunities. Using the insight gained from the design charrette, small teams of students synthesized their analyses into broad visions for the future of downtown. Finally, students individually developed the comprehensive design proposals displayed in the exhibit to implement their visions. The proposals vary in scale from minute details for an individual plaza space within downtown to a comprehensive system of parks and green spaces not only within downtown but also along a several-mile stretch of the Arkansas River, Rolley said.
The general concepts and final designs developed by the class fall into four broad categories named for their overall shape or scope: core, cornerstone, diagonal and big ideas.
Even within those categories, the scope of the design elements varies greatly, Rolley said, adding that students were given the freedom to identify relevant issues and respond with appropriate design solutions to foster the development of a wide range of creative design proposals spanning a broad spectrum of landscape architecture principles. The proposals in the exhibit, also displayed in Wichita, give the city of Wichita numerous options for shaping a promising future and lay the groundwork for a city redrawn.
The studio is part of the new Master of Landscape Architecture curriculum offered by the department of landscape architecture and regional and community planning in the K-State College of Architecture, Planning and Design. The intensive summer study opportunity allows students to explore the relationship between community and design while working with stakeholders in a real community.
Participating students, all graduates students in landscape architecture, included:
Ian Scherling, Goodland.
From Greater Kansas City: Julianne Rader, Leawood; Lindsey Scheuneman, Olathe; Sarah Morrow, Overland Park; and Katie Sobczynski, Stilwell.
From Manhattan: Robin Banks, Jessica Blackwell, Kent Burnham, Josh LaMartina, Andy Meessmann, Lindsey Richardson and David Vogel.
Bret Rolfs, Milford; Luke Schooler, McPherson; Shandelle Renyer, Topeka; and Kris Coen, Wichita.
From out of state:
Chris Morton, Englewood, Colo.
From Missouri: Kevin Kroen, High Ridge; Jeremy Anterola and Scott Capps, both of Liberty; Anthony Fox and Jessica Spalding, both of St. Charles; Amanda Ulrich, St. Clair; Cole Giesler, St. Genevieve; and Michael Meihaus, St. Louis.
From Nebraska: Amy Shaffer, Lincoln; and Kelsey Kern and Cody Peratt, both of Omaha.
Jeremy Merrill, graduate student in landscape architecture, Pendleton, Ore.; and John Perry, graduate student in landscape architecture, Mitchell, S.D.