Architecture Students Vie for Heintzelman, Kremer Honors

Source: Professor Susanne Siepl-Coates, 785-532-1122, scoates@k-state.edu

News release prepared by: Emily Vietti, 785-532-1090, evietti@k-state.edu

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS VIE FOR HEINTZELMAN, KREMER HONORS

MANHATTAN – For fifth-year architecture students in the College of Architecture, Planning & Design at Kansas State University, the Heintzelman and Kremer prizes determine the best of the best.

On Friday, May 6, several fifth-year architecture students competed to see who would be chosen for the Heintzelman Prize, an award that recognizes outstanding individual design achievement, and the Kremer Prize, which recognizes outstanding collaborative design achievement.

The winners were selected by a jury comprised of Alan Dunlop, Henri de Hahn, and Anne Schopf, FAIA. Dunlop is one of the UK’s leading architects. He is also a visiting professor at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. Last year he held the position of Distinguished Regnier Visiting Chair in Architecture at Kansas State University. De Hahn is the department head and a professor in the Architecture Department of the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Schopf is a partner with Mahlum Architects in Seattle. She is currently Chair of the AIA Committee on Design.

The 2011 Heintzelman Award Jury was generously underwritten by Davidson Architecture & Engineering, in Lenexa, KS. Founded in 1995, Davidson Architecture & Engineering is a premier commercial architectural and engineering firm.

Alyssa DeBrie, Windsor, CO, took home the Heintzelman Prize for her project “International Study Center of Orvieto, Italy.” Professor Don Watts served as her major professor.

Juror Alan Dunlop said the jury was “struck by the level of analysis and the degree of sensitivity and sensibility” in DeBrie’s project.

Joshua Hartman, Altamont, KS, took home the Heintzelman Honorable Mention for “Center for Autistic Children.” Professor Susanne Siepl-Coates served as his major professor.

“The level of investigation and thoroughness of process was what struck us about this project,” Schopf said of Hartman’s entry. “The resolution was sensitive to the needs of the eventual users.”

Other Heintzelman nominees included Jason Ragan, Wichita, KS, “The (con)Temporary Gallery: All Shadows are Liars” (Professor Robert Condia, AIA, Architect, as major professor), and Timothy Meyers, Blue Springs, MO, “Seaton Hall Additions/Revisions” (Professor Peter Magyar as major professor).

The Kremer Prize was awarded to Alyssa Parsons, Manhattan, KS; Amy Finnerty, Olathe, KS; Kyle Rogler, Olathe, KS; Jesse Husmann, Plainville, KS; and Sarah Pink, Kansas City, MO; for their entry “West Bottoms Urban Vision Study.” Professor Vladimir Krstic served as their major professor.

“Ultimately, the presentation and the overall subtlety and courage proved who the winners were,” said de Hahn.

Other Kremer Prize nominees were Jonathon Olson, Lee’s Summit, MO; Samantha Smith, Oak Grove, MO; and Derek Bestor, Kingwood, TX; for “The Kimball Avenue Eco Community” (Professor Gary Coates as major professor) and Christopher Curtis, Great Bend, KS, presenting “Sandnes” (Associate Professor Torgier Norheim as major professor.)

The Heintzelman Prize, named for former Architecture Professor J. Cranston Heintzelman, is awarded for excellence in individual design during the final year of study in the Department of Architecture. The prize was first awarded in 1983, after Professor Heintzelman’s retirement. The Kremer Prize, awarded this year for the first time, recognizes excellence in collaborative design by students in the final year of the professional Master of Architecture degree program. The prize is named in honor of Eugene Kremer, a long-time professor and head of the Department of Architecture. As an educator and advisor, Professor Kremer fostered in thousands of students a passion for learning and a desire to achieve excellence.