K-State to support community design initiatives across the state through expanded Kansas City Design Center

By Thom Jackson

College of Architecture, Planning & Design

Thanks to new funding, Kansas State University's partnering urban design nonprofit, the Kansas City Design Center, or KCDC, will extend its impact beyond Kansas City and into communities across the state.

Through education and public service, the design center fosters sustainable, equitable design solutions while engaging students in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design, civic leaders and community organizations. The significant expansion of the KCDC has been made possible through a two-year, $250,000 investment from the university's One K-State Fund as part of the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan.

This investment marks the college and university's commitment to engagement and design leadership, and it is vital to one of the university's key opportunity agenda items, community health and well-being. As a cornerstone of the Next-Gen K-State vision, this initiative seeks to foster thriving, resilient communities by leveraging the university's expertise in interdisciplinary engagement, design thinking and place-based problem solving.

"These funds will enable APDesign to expand our work in Kansas City and across Kansas to help communities with engaged design solutions," said Michael McClure, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning & Design.

The expansion will enable faculty and students to collaborate with Kansas communities on projects that advance health, economic vitality and quality of life through improved design. From downtown revitalization to walkable neighborhoods and green infrastructure, KCDC's design expertise plays a vital role in creating the physical environments that support long-term community well-being.

The KCDC expansion initiative exemplifies K-State's land-grant mission to serve the entire state of Kansas.

The One K-State Fund is a universitywide strategic investment vehicle that supports projects advancing major institutional goals. The fund prioritizes initiatives with broad impact, interdisciplinary collaboration and alignment with the K-State Opportunity Agenda.

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