Sources: Melanie Klein, 785-532-1193, melaniek@k-state.edu;
and Todd Gabbard, 785-532-1129, rtodd@k-state.edu
Note to editors: Lindsey Richardson is a graduate of Clearwater High School; Clemente Jaquez-Herrera is a graduate of Lakin High School; Jessica Williams is a graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Overland Park; Sally Maddock is a graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School, Overland Park; Jacob Henley is a graduate of Hannibal (Mo.) High School; Jessica Blackwell is a graduate of Lee's Summit (Mo.) North High School; and Josh LaMartina is a graduate of Rosary High School, St. Louis, Mo.
News release prepared by: Andy Badeker, 785-532-6415, abadeker@k-state.edu
Monday, Dec. 10, 2007
K-STATE STUDENTS' DESIGNS FOR GREENSBURG'S FUTURE ON DISPLAY IN PRATT
MANHATTAN -- Residents of Greensburg and surrounding communities will get their first look at how that devastated town might rebuild when the design work of Kansas State University students goes on display Friday, Dec. 14, in neighboring Pratt.
The dozen projects, ranging in scale from the restoration of the U.S. Highway 54 business corridor down to a tourism center for the town's "big well," are the result of collaboration among about 25 K-Staters studying architecture and landscape architecture in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design.
"The integration of strategies from landscape architecture as well as architecture enhances and strengthens the projects," said Melanie Klein, assistant professor of landscape architecture and regional and community planning.
Klein and Todd Gabbard, assistant professor of architecture, coordinated their fourth- and fifth-year design studios to address the needs that residents and other Greensburg stakeholders had identified in a long-term community recovery plan.
That plan, itself the result of three months of discussion by officials, business owners, civic groups and hundreds of citizens, helped students narrow their focus after they visited the tornado-stricken town early in October.
Students were encouraged to pursue efficient and sustainable methods and designs to reduce construction costs and minimize the environmental damage of any completed structures. The designs also promote alternative transportation and conservation of energy, water, and natural resources.
On top of such environmental concerns, designs naturally had to take into account aesthetics and the community's priorities. The results demonstrate the worth of collaboration, Gabbard said.
"In virtually every respect -- energy efficiency, ecological impact, even human health -- true sustainability draws on the best features of both interior and exterior environments," Gabbard said. "Outdoor and indoor living should reinforce each other. Greensburg can become a model of sustainable small-town life."
The projects will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Jan. 10, 2008, at the Delmar Riney Gallery of Art at Pratt Community College. An opening reception will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 14, at the gallery. The projects also will be on display Feb. 24-March 7, 2008, in Seaton Hall's Chang Gallery at K-State. A booklet of the collected designs in Adobe Acrobat format is to be available starting in mid-December on the Greensburg Web site, http://www.greensburgks.org/ The K-State Center for Engagement and Community Development financed the display and publication of the student work.
The students, their majors, hometowns and the projects on which they collaborated include:
Clemente Jaquez-Herrera, architecture, Garden City, eco-village and park; Ian Scherling, landscape architecture, Goodland, business incubator.
From Greater Kansas City: Julianne Rader, landscape architecture, Leawood, eco-village and park; Erin Wages, architecture, Olathe, downtown master plan and design guidelines; and Collin Curry, architecture, Overland Park, media center.
From Manhattan: Jessica Blackwell, landscape architecture, lake, fairgrounds and rodeo; Jacob Henley, architecture, eco-village and park; Josh LaMartina, landscape architecture, educational campus; Lindsey Richardson, landscape architecture, guidelines for civic and residential streetscapes; and Jessica Williams, architecture, business incubator.
Brett Rolfs, landscape architecture, Milford, downtown master plan and design guidelines; Shandelle Renyer, landscape architecture, Topeka, U.S. 54 and the economic viability of downtown; and Skyler Bonser, architecture, Wichita, eco-village and park.
From out of state: Sally Maddock, architecture, Lakewood, Colo., Greensburg green guidelines; Melody Jacobson, architecture, Priest River, Idaho, downtown master plan and design guidelines.
From Missouri: Aaron Vanderpool, architecture, Blue Springs, educational campus; Malcolm Watkins, architecture, Gower, "big well" tourism center; Kevin Kroen, landscape architecture, High Ridge, "big well" tourism center; Jeremy Anterola and Scott Capps, both landscape architecture, both of Liberty, and both alternate master plan; Andrew Becker, architecture, Nixa, eco-village and park; and Geoff Van de Riet, landscape architecture, St. Louis, educational campus.
Laura Wilke, architecture, Columbus, Neb. educational campus; Kelsey Kern, landscape architecture, Omaha, Neb., Greensburg green guidelines.