KU's architecture Studio 804 wins berth in final round of national competition

UPDATE: July 30, 2003: Studio 804 at KU wins $25,000 national architecture grand prize

LAWRENCE -- The School of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Kansas is one of six schools selected for the final round of the national competition sponsored by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. KU's entry is its graduate design Studio 804, which for the past five years has constructed an affordable house in Lawrence.

Winner of the $25,000 NCARB Prize of Creative Integration of Practice and Education in the Academy will be announced at the council's annual meeting and conference in late June at San Antonio. The remaining five finalists each will receive $7,500 cash awards.

A total of 49 entries were juried for the 2003 NCARB Prize competition. Architecture schools with degree programs accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board were invited to submit established projects, completed or in progress by the end of the fall 2002 semester, that demonstrated creative initiatives that bring together academia and the profession within the studio curriculum.

Other 2003 NCARB Prize-winning entries are: Clemson University's urban community outreach program; Mississippi State University's curriculum for introducing realities of practice to first-year students; Pennsylvania State University/ University of Washington's rural community outreach program combining resources of both universities; the University of Maryland's practice-based design studio; and Virginia Polytechnic Institute's technically innovative solution to sustainable architecture.

KU's Studio 804 has designed and constructed a house in Lawrence for the past five years. The house is sold to a buyer meeting income qualifications.

NCARB judges noted that KU's entry presents an ongoing program where students both design and build projects: "Their work is integrated with construction rather than architectural practice. The jury believes this sustained program with a proven track record raises the bar relative to design."

Architecture Dean John Gaunt said: "This is this year's latest manifestation of the national recognition that Studio 804 consistently brings to the school and to KU. It is well-deserved recognition for inspiring work, thoughtfully conceived and diligently executed."

Kent Spreckelmeyer and Dan Rockhill, both professors of architecture, teach Studio 804, a two-semester course Rockhill created. Spreckelmeyer said this is the seventh year the class has completed a full-scale project and the fifth year to build a house. Other projects have included restoring the roof on the Barber School at Clinton Lake and constructing a canopy behind Marvin Hall, the home of the architecture school.

This year's house and two previous houses were built for Tenants to Homeowners Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families make the transition from renting to owning a home.

Nineteen students, both graduate and undergraduates, are in the 14th week of the 16-week schedule to complete construction on the 1,300-square-foot house. During the fall semester, the students interviewed tenants of homes built by previous classes, gathered zoning permits and researched building materials. Students spent the first two weeks of the spring semester designing and then constructing their design over the next 14 weeks.

Photographs of this year's project in progress and previous Studio 804 projects are available online at http://www.studio804.com/.

The NCARB Prize recognizes excellence and innovation in the integration of architectural education and practice. Speaking on behalf of the prize jury, former council president Peter Steffian said, "The second year of the NCARB Prize competition has unleashed another amazing group of diverse projects. We are very pleased, once again, with the high quality of the winning programs. Our grand prize winner ... will be revealed at the NCARB annual meeting."

NCARB comprises the architectural registration boards of all 50 states as well as those of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Students enrolled in Design Studio 804 are majoring in architecture either as graduate students or as fifth-year undergraduates. KU's bachelor of architecture degree is a five-year professional program.

The students' hometown information is:

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Shawnee and Peoria, Ariz.
Jean Dodd, graduate student. She lives in Shawnee and is the daughter of Harry and Nancy Donaldson of Peoria, Ariz. She is a graduate of Monroe Senior High School, Monroe, Mich.

From Roeland Park
George Lewis, graduate student, son of G. Warren and Margaret Lewis; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School graduate.

From Lenexa and Primghar, Iowa
Erin Shea, graduate student. She lives in Lenexa and is the daughter of Ron and Donna Shea of Primghar, Iowa. She is a graduate of South O'Brien High School, Primghar, Iowa.

MCPHERSON COUNTY
From McPherson and Reeds Springs, Mo.
Brian Spainhour, graduate student, son of Charles Spainhour of Reeds Spring, Mo.; McPherson High School graduate.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Kyle Unruh, fifth-year senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Unruh; Wichita East High School graduate.

ARIZONA
From Peoria and Shawnee, Kan.
Jean Dodd, graduate student. She lives in Shawnee and is the daughter of Harry and Nancy Donaldson. She is a graduate of Monroe Senior High School, Monroe, Mich.

IOWA
From Primghar and Lenexa, Kan.
Erin Shea, graduate student, daughter of Ron and Donna Shea; South O'Brien High School graduate.

MISSOURI
From Columbia
Lindsey Erickson, fifth-year senior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Erickson; Hickman High School graduate.

From Ellisville
Kevin Gillian, fifth-year senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Gillian; Lafayette High School graduate.

From Florissant
Jessica Fishback, fifth-year senior, daughter of Daniel and Noreen Fishback; Rosati Kain High School graduate.
Diane Mansfield, graduate student, daughter of Ruth Ann and Joseph Hager; Rosary High School graduate.

From Reeds Springs, Mo., and McPherson, Kan.
Brian Spainhour, graduate student, son of Charles Spainhour of Reeds Spring, Mo; McPherson High School graduate.

From St. Charles
Carl Drafall, fifth-year senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Drafall; Lutheran High School graduate.

From St. Louis
Christina Boehne, fifth-year senior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Boehne; St. John High School graduate.
Christine Prescott, graduate student, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Thrope; Horton Watkins High School graduate.

From St. Peters
Dirk Henke, fifth-year senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Henke; Fort Zumwalt South High School graduate.
Lindsey Piant, a fifth-year senior, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Piant; Fort Zumwalt South High School graduate.

From Steelville
Brian Garvey, fifth-year senior, son of John and Donna Garvey; Steelville High School graduate.

From Wildwood
Michael J. Schaefer, graduate student, son of Marvin and Barbara Schaefer; Eureka High School graduate.

ILLINOIS
From Elgin
Evan Fox, senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Fox; Elgin High School graduate.

From Glen Ellyn
Frank Louis, graduate student, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Louis; Glenbard High School graduate.

JAPAN
From Nagano
Izumi Kitajima, graduate student, is the daughter of Wazawa Yasunori.

GERMANY
From Neuulm
Christina Assmann, graduate student.