Designbuild studio partners with Lawrence elementary school to build shade pavilion

LAWRENCE – A KU architecture class led by Associate Professor of Architecture Keith Van de Riet will spend fall 2023 designing and constructing shade structure for Lawrence’s Hillcrest elementary.

The students on the project are third-year architecture majors who bring prior experience with drawings, conceptual development, computational design and model making, according to Van de Riet. He said the goal is to advance the student’s education in these areas with the project serving as a case study. 

“Shade pavilions are the perfect project for our students. It’s an ideal blend of functional and aesthetic requirements,” Van de Riet said. “Additionally, students work with the community and learn how to manage a budget and construction timeline. I enjoy these projects because we’re working outside the classroom – and I find these studios to be very rewarding to teach.”

The Hillcrest elementary Parent-Teacher Organization has set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for the project. To this point, the school has raised around $9,000 — primarily through its annual fundraising walkathon, known as the “HawkWalk,” — but estimates call for an additional $25,000.

“The Ryan Gray Playground is a true gem of the Lawrence community. Throughout much of the year, it’s bustling during the day, in the evenings, and on weekends. But the lack of shade severely limits its use during certain times of the year,” said Sabrina Kuksi, Hillcrest PTO President. “We are grateful for KU’s support— and additional community backing for this effort will greatly increase accessibility and clear the way for everyone to enjoy the playground year-round.”

Initially opened in 1993, the playground honors Ryan Gray, a former Hillcrest student with disabilities who served as a good luck charm of sorts for the 1988 KU Men’s Basketball National Championship team. He died in 1990. In 2016, the playground underwent a $375,000 renovation and at the time was considered the first fully accessible playground in Kansas.

“Beyond the functional outcome of a shade structure that serves the community, these types of design-build projects provide critical hands-on learning opportunities for our architecture students. Design-build studios introduce the basics of construction, materials and working in a collaborative approach to creating unique structures in the community. They also foster productive relationships between KU and the broader community,” Van de Riet said.

Images: The studio hosted an event at Hillcrest elementary on Sept. 13 where preliminary designs were introduced. Hillcrest students were presented with drawings, physical models, and mockups of multiple pavilion designs created by the KU students. Feedback from the Hillcrest students will help the KU students develop the final design.

KU Designbuild students are empowered to do everything it takes to transform imaginative ideas into tangible and functional built works. Students learn to research materials and construction methods, evaluate sites and environmental impacts, and use project management systems to effectively coordinate with municipalities, utilities, community and industry partners. Learn more about KU Designbuild programs and see projects here.