Bernd Foerster
Because he has a penchant for preservation and a zeal for serving the community, Bernd Foerster is a familiar and highly respected voice.
Bernd studied architecture at Columbia University, then received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After serving academic appointments at the University of Cincinnati and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in 1971 Bernd was named dean of what was then the K-State College of Architecture and Design. During his tenure as our dean, the College experienced unprecedented growth and expansion, and the idea of a beginning, pre-professional curriculum was initiated. Bernd stepped aside from his administrative duties in 1984 but continued teaching until his retirement in 1999. He continues his first love-teaching-through a distance-learning course at Goucher College in Maryland, meeting with his students two weeks per year and otherwise communicating with them via e-mail and the telephone.
Named a distinguished professor by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and a Fellow Emeritus of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Bernd is also a Trustee Emeritus of the National Trust for Historic Preservation; a recipient of the Kansas Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation; and the author of four books, four films, and numerous articles on preservation and architecture. He has also been a consultant on community design for the New York State Council on the Arts and on design of federal buildings for the U.S. General Services Administration; chair of the New York Governor’s Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation; trustee of the Olana Historic Site; president of the Kansas Society of Architects; chair of the AIA Committee on Historic Resources; member of the Charleston, South Carolina, Drayton Hall Council; chair of the AIA Kansas Committee on Historic Resources; member of the Kansas Main Street Advisory Board; honorary Trustee of the Kansas Preservation Alliance; listed in “Who’s Who in America,” “Who’s Who in the Midwest,” and “Who’s Who in the World;” and a recipient of the James Marston Fitch Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council for Preservation Education.
Well known throughout the Manhattan community for his expertise in historic preservation and willingness to serve, Bernd’s resulting list of local activities and honors is equally lengthy. He has been president of the Manhattan Arts Council as well as the Riley County Historical Museum Trustees, chair of the Riley County Road and Bridge Advisory Committee, member of the Manhattan Historic Resources Board, member of the Riley County Planning Board, and chair of the Manhattan Downtown Tomorrow steering committee.
Bernd has, in fact, come full circle during his years in Manhattan. After spearheading efforts to revitalize downtown Manhattan and erect the Town Center Mall during the late 1970s and 80s, he is currently serving as vice chairman of the Manhattan Downtown Redevelopment steering committee, a group that is directing the operations of a design and development team for the Third and Fourth Street corridors. He chaired the same type of board 20 years ago, and that group played a central role in the mall’s design and the way in which the structure was tied architecturally to the rest of the downtown area.
On the K-State campus, Bernd is remembered for leading a U.S. delegation on preservation planning to the People’s Republic of China in 1982; a preservation delegation to the Soviet Union, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary in 1989; and a faculty team to Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, and Hungary in 1990. He is perhaps most proud of his successful efforts to save K-State’s burned-out Nichols Hall from demolition, restoring the fountain in City Park, and convincing the owner of Varney’s to keep the marquee outside the Aggieville bookstore.
Most remarkably, Bernd continues involvement in these many activities at the age of 80. He was quoted last year in a Manhattan Mercury story about his achievements as saying, “I have plenty of time.” When asked why he continues to be so active at an age when most want to slow down, Foerster, a former member of the Dutch resistance, says “I have learned from experience; World War II taught me the importance of citizenship.”
As a teacher, author, and dedicated professional, academic, and community servant, Bernd has devoted his life to improvement and preservation of the best our community has to offer. We are extremely pleased to present Bernd Foerster with a Kansas State University Distinguished Service Award.