Design For Next: The Future of Architecture & Design at KU

Design For Next: The Future of Architecture & Design at KU

A new vision for architecture and design education

The University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design is building a new hub for learning and collaborative discovery in the heart of campus.

BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, in collaboration with BNIM and the KU School of Architecture & Design, has unveiled a new light-filled studio building optimized for KU's hands-on educational experience.

More than just a project to create much-needed space for studios and labs, this is an opportunity to realize a special place on campus that will support, advance, and celebrate architecture and design at KU for generations to come. Embracing our unique setting on top of Mount Oread, this project will respectfully engage with the history of our buildings and campus landscape while also providing the optimal setting for future-focused inquiry and ambitious creation. 

With plans to begin construction in 2026, we are excited to share our vision for a remade home for design education at the University of Kansas 

See the project here and watch for more updates soon.

Timeline

  • March 2023: BIG begins space planning and design project

  • April 2024: BIG in collaboration with BNIM and School unveil project.

  • Summer 2026: Construction begins

Project Pillars

Arial Shot of KU campus with the new building render included

Iconic Showcase of Creativity

Create a world-class adademic research facility that inspires playfulness and creativity.
Render of KU Kube behind chalmers hall

Environmental Stewardship

Preserve and adapt existing spaces to minimize carbon footprint and build to embody the values KU teaches.
Render showing the egress staricases in the interior of the new building project.

Connected Campus Hub

Bring people together with contemplative spaces that foster community and encourage collaboration.
Render of the new building and winter garden bridge between marvin and chalmers halls

Innovative & Future Proof

Leverage new and developing technology in flexible spaces that allow for growth.
The time has come to realize a truly unified and inspiring home for our programs.

 

The School is growing. The strategic reorganization of KU’s professional design programs into one school in 2009 has created new ground for cross-disciplinary collaboration. New programs have been created in response to industry demands. Increased partnerships with local, regional, and international firms have further enhanced the industry-engaged culture long imbedded within our two departments. And now, more prospective students are applying, and admitted students are more accomplished and prepared than ever before. 

We need more space. Beyond the buildings that have housed our two departments for decades – Architecture in Marvin Hall and Design in Chalmers Hall – the School currently occupies space in several more buildings on and off campus. Renovating existing buildings and acquiring space in additional ones have been successful responses to changing space needs thus far, but the limit has been reached. 

Spatial connections matter. The increasingly interdisciplinary nature of design creates an urgency for design schools to evolve curricula and provide experiences that prepare graduates for the realities of professional practice. The University and the School have responded with organizational and curricular innovations that have led to unprecedented success for design education at KU. But we are just getting started. To fully reach our potential, and to help more aspiring designers reach theirs, we need more space and space that is optimized for the future of design education 

For project updates, watch this webpage and follow the KU School of Architecture & Design on Facebook,Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

For inquiries contact arcd-news@ku.edu.