2007 Heintzelman Prize Announced

Final projects of a number of graduating architecture students at Kansas State University were recently selected for special recognition in the Heintzelman Prize Competition.

The Heintzelman Prize is awarded annually for outstanding design achievements by students in the final semester of the professional bachelor of architecture degree program. The prize is named after J. Cranston Heintzelman, a long-time teacher in the Department of Architecture. One student or team of students in each fifth-year design studio is nominated by the faculty as a Heintzelman finalist. A jury of three people, composed of a member of the Kansas State University community, a guest educator and a guest practitioner, selects the Heintzelman Prize winner. Prize recipients were announced during the College of Architecture, Planning and Design commencement ceremony on May 12.

The recipient of the 2007 Heintzelman Prize is Eric Abeln, Edwardsville, IL. His winning proposal for a Retreat Center on the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in Chase County was developed as a demonstration of solar powered and ecologically sustainable building and landscape design. The studio was led by Professor Gary Coates, with the assistance of Finnish architect Mikko Heikkiknen, who was the 2007 Victor L. Regnier Visiting Professor in the Department of Architecture.

Honorable mention was awarded to Gustavo Ramirez, Guadalajara, Mexico, whose studio was led by Professor Vladimir Krstic, and to the Project Solar House studio, led by Professor Todd Gabbard. Project Solar House students include Andrew Billing, Wentzville, MO; Mitchell Cook, Independence, MO; Casey Culbertson, Lee Summit, MO; James Evrard, Cleveland, MO; Kevin Grace, Jefferson City, MO; John Iiams, Topeka, KS; Jessica Miller, Omaha, NE; Kelly Moore, Independence, MO; Morgan Phillips, Jefferson City, MO; Travina Saindon, Florissant, MO; Matthew Teismann, St. Louis, MO; Anastasia Wayne, Overland Park, KS; Lynsey Wedd, Tonganoxie, KS; and Adam Williams, Abilene, KS.

Other nominees were Colleen Driver, Parkville, MO; Angela Johnson, Glendora, CA; and Abbie Wharton, Garden City. Their studios were led by Professors Torgeir Norheim, Matthew Knox and Susanne Siepl-Coates, respectively.

The projects are on display through the summer of 2007 in the Chang Gallery of Seaton Hall.

This year’s invited jurors included Professor Martin Despang, College of Architecture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Mr. John Freshnock, architecture alumnus and principal of WSKF Architects of Kansas City; and Ms. Martha Seaton, Manhattan.

For more information, contact:
Susanne Siepl-Coates, 785.532.5953
Diane Potts, 785.532.1090