Nordic visions, urban futures

Students in K‑State's College of Architecture, Planning & Design spent the spring semester tackling an ambitious international urban redevelopment project alongside Alexandria Algard, founder of her eponymous architecture office in Stavanger, Norway, as the 2025–2026 Victor L. Regnier Distinguished Visiting Chair in Architecture.

Students tackle real-world urban redevelopment

Working in collaboration with faculty and Algard, fifth-year architecture graduate students developed visions for transforming Stavanger’s recently vacated urban hospital district into a vibrant and sustainable neighborhood through adaptive reuse, new development and people-centered urban design.

“The students are learning what makes a healthy and exciting neighborhood, and that is something we need more of — both in the U.S. and in Norway,” Algard said of the process. “It is a pleasure and great fun to work with the students on this ambitious and forward-looking urban project, where quality of life, walkability and social infrastructure is in focus, in addition to adaptive reuse of existing buildings and innovative new urban programs which come together to form a vibrant urban area with sustainability goals at its core."

Established in 2003 by the children of Victor and Helen Regnier, the Victor L. Regnier Distinguished Visiting Chair enriches the educational experience of K-State architecture students by bringing internationally recognized architects into the classroom.

Throughout the semester, Algard collaborated closely with faculty and students on design research, critiques and the department’s annual “super review,” leading discussions among distinguished reviewers and showcasing graduate design excellence.

The Regnier Chair also co-teaches a fifth-year graduate studio, contributes to the theory curriculum through seminars and discussions and delivers a public lecture that engages students, professionals and the broader community.

Bringing Norwegian design leadership to K-State

A leading voice in contemporary Norwegian architecture, Algard has brought an internationally recognized portfolio and a deep commitment to architecture’s social and civic dimensions to the role. Her experience spans practice and leadership across Europe and the United States, including work with acclaimed firms REX in New York City, OMA in the Netherlands and Herzog & de Meuron in Switzerland. In 2015, she became the youngest-ever president of the Norwegian Architects’ Association at age 33.

Her work has advanced sustainable and people-centered design through projects including the adaptive reuse of a landmark 1962 city hall, a sustainable workshop building emphasizing wood construction and residential spaces designed to encourage social connection.

Algard chaired the jury for the Norwegian government’s annual “Attractive City” prize for sustainable urban development and led a national initiative examining architectural and urban quality across Norway.

She is also a writer and lecturer on topics of sustainable urbanism, adaptive reuse and how the built environment affect people's quality of life.

“Alexandria Algard represents the very spirit of the Regnier Chair — internationally engaged, intellectually rigorous and committed to architecture’s role in improving human experience,” said Michael McClure, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning & Design. “Her work has challenged students to consider how design can foster community, equity and belonging across cultures.”