KU Aviation & Transit
Program Overview
Transportation shapes the way people connect with cities, regions, and the world. The Aviation & Transit Design Professional Pathway at the University of Kansas prepares future architects and designers to design the complex environments that support contemporary mobility, from airport terminals and aviation facilities to rail stations, multimodal transit hubs, and emerging transportation networks.
Through professional internships, design studios, interdisciplinary collaboration, research, and industry partnerships, students explore how transportation architecture can improve operational performance, sustainability, resilience, accessibility, and the passenger experience. Graduates are prepared to contribute to multidisciplinary teams designing the next generation of transportation facilities
Why Aviation & Transit?
Transportation architecture is one of the fastest-evolving areas of professional practice. As cities grow, technologies advance, and global mobility continues to change, airports and transit facilities are becoming more than transportation infrastructure, they are civic destinations that influence economic development, environmental stewardship, resilience, and the public experience of place.
The aviation and transportation sector continues to grow and diversify, creating expanding opportunities for architects to contribute to the planning, design, modernization, and operation of complex transportation environments. From airport terminals and corporate aviation facilities to rail stations, transit-oriented developments, and emerging mobility infrastructure, graduates are well positioned for rewarding careers within a dynamic and globally connected area of professional practice.
The Aviation & Transit Design Pathway prepares students to contribute to this evolving profession by combining architectural excellence with technical knowledge, interdisciplinary collaboration, and an understanding of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of mobility.
Curriculum
The Aviation & Transit Design Professional Pathway combines immersive professional experience with advanced academic study through a 15-credit curriculum that integrates professional internships, design studios, and specialized coursework. Students develop expertise in the planning, design, and performance of aviation and transportation environments through close collaboration with faculty and leading practitioners in the field. The pathway is designed to culminate in a Graduate Certificate in Aviation & Transit Design, which is currently under development and subject to university approval.
Students complete a supervised internship with a nationally recognized architecture or multidisciplinary design firm specializing in aviation, transportation, or related practice areas. The internship provides firsthand experience in professional practice while exposing students to the planning, design, and delivery of complex transportation projects. While complementing the internship experience, students engage in faculty-directed investigations and develop a research inquiry related to aviation and/or transit architecture and planning, connecting professional practice with broader architectural, technical, and theoretical concepts explored throughout the pathway.
Prerequisite: ARCH 609 with a grade of C- or higher and acceptance into the Aviation & Transit professional pathway option.
Building upon the internship experience, students complete an advanced capstone design studio focused on aviation and transit facility design, including airport terminals, corporate aviation facilities, multimodal transit hubs, and other transportation environments. The studio emphasizes research, site analysis, master planning, programming, concept development, building technology, technical resolution, and design synthesis while addressing environmental performance and contemporary challenges in mobility infrastructure. The course builds on the real-world experience gained during the ARCH 801 internship and culminates in a comprehensive transportation design proposal.
Prerequisite: ARCH 801 with a grade of C or higher.
This seminar examines the planning, design, and operation of aviation and transportation facilities across multiple scales. Through case studies, lectures, applied research, and engagement with industry professionals, students explore airport planning, terminal design, multimodal transportation systems, passenger experience, sustainability, resilience, and emerging mobility technologies that are shaping the future of transportation architecture.
Prerequisite: none
Admission
Graduate students must formally request the addition of the graduate certificate by submitting an application to KU Graduate Admissions as a "Current KU Graduate Student". If you have any questions regarding the application, please reach out to the KU Graduate Admissions team at graduateadm@ku.edu.
Faculty Directors
The Aviation & Transit Design Pathway is led by faculty whose expertise spans transportation architecture, the sustainable design of new and existing buildings, building performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Together, they bring extensive experience in architectural education, professional practice, and research to prepare students for careers designing the next generation of transportation environments.
Kapila D. Silva, PhD | Professor of Architecture & Associate Dean
Aviation & Transit Pathway Director
Dr. Kapila D. Silva is Professor of Architecture and Associate Dean for Community Excellence at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design. As Director of the Aviation & Transit Design Professional Pathway, he provides leadership in transportation architecture education through the integration of professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry engagement. His experience in architectural design, urban environments, and the social and cultural dimensions of the built environment supports a holistic approach to designing transportation facilities that serve both functional and civic roles.
Suncica Milosevic, PhD | Assistant Professor of Architecture
Aviation & Transit Pathway Co-Director
Dr. Suncica (Sunny) Milosevic is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design. Her teaching and research focus on high-performance building design, sustainable architecture, building enclosure systems, and environmental performance across both new and existing buildings. Drawing on nearly a decade of professional experience with leading international architecture firms, including Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB), Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, Perkins&Will, and Hirsch MPG, she brings expertise in the design and delivery of complex public and institutional projects. Within the Aviation + Transit Design Professional Pathway, her work emphasizes integrated design, sustainability, resilience, and evidence-based approaches to creating high-performing transportation environments.
Jae D. Chang, PhD | Professor of Architecture & Associate Dean
Affiliated Faculty
BIO Pending
Student Work
Students in the Aviation & Transit Design Professional Pathway engage with complex transportation design challenges through studio projects, professional internships, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Their work explores the planning, design, and technical development of aviation and transportation facilities at a range of scales, integrating architectural design, environmental performance, user experience, and building technology. Representative projects demonstrate innovative solutions that respond to the evolving needs of mobility, sustainability, and resilient public infrastructure.
Representative Project Types:
- Airport Terminals and Concourses
- Corporate and General Aviation Facilities
- Multimodal Transit Hubs
- Rail and High-Speed Rail Stations
- Transit-Oriented Development
- Expansion and Modernization of Existing Transportation Facilities
- Sustainable and Resilient Transportation Infrastructure
- Passenger Experience, Accessibility, and Wayfinding