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Alumni Awards List

AARON NIES was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended Sumner Academy High School and then, having excelled in international baccalaureate courses in art, chemistry, and math, Aaron decided to be the third generation of his family to attend K-State.

Unaware of the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design and its exceptional education for design-related professions, Aaron majored in chemical engineering during his first semester at K-State. It was only after visiting an environmental design studio with a friend and learning about his studies that Aaron decided to change majors. The emphasis on creativity as well as technical subjects appealed to his passions and strengths. After completing foundation studies, he decided to pursue a bachelor of interior architecture degree because of the hands-on nature of the curriculum and the various professions to which the degree applies.

Part of the curriculum included the opportunity to complete a nine-month internship, and Aaron worked at Marc-Michaels Interior Design in Winter Park, Florida. This experience had a significant impact on his professional career. After graduation, he decided to return to central Florida and begin his professional career at Romanza Interiors, a full-service, residential interior design firm newly founded by his internship sponsor, Chad Moor, '87.

From 1997-2001, he participated as a core member in many facets of a new small business which grew from 4 to 30+ employees with offices in Orlando and Naples, Florida. In addition to conceptualizing and implementing interior architectural designs on many award-winning luxury residential projects, Aaron also excelled as a manager and was promoted to director of the architectural department before departing the firm to establish a new business.

Since 2001, Aaron has been principal of Daedalus Design Studio LLC in Orlando, developing a unique portfolio of services intended for the growing market known as residential "architectural detailing." His education at K-State has proven thoroughly relevant to this area of specialization, and the firm currently employs three K-State interior architecture graduates. Presently, the firm's portfolio of services has expanded to include residential design, residential remodels, commercial interiors and architectural graphics. During this time, Aaron has not only grown as a design professional, but also gained first-hand knowledge regarding the business practices of interior design, architecture, home building and real estate development.

Some of Aaron's current projects include a 9,500 square foot new construction private residence in Virginia Beach, Virginia; a 2,500 square foot condominium remodel in Marco Island, Florida; and a 4,400 square foot model home in Reunion, Florida.

Outside of work, Aaron is a founding member of the Civic Minded Five, a non-profit group in partnership with Rollins College of Winter Park, Florida, dedicated to presenting distinguished musical artists including Cecil Taylor and Sam Rivers. In recent years, he has pursued the studies of business and economics with enthusiasm and intention to expand his endeavors into real estate, development and investment. Aaron enjoys traveling throughout the state and experiencing the unique areas of Florida such as the Everglades National Park, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, natural springs, rivers and extensive coastline.