KU School of Architecture to celebrate new book collection

LAWRENCE -- A celebration this afternoon will mark the donation of more than 80 books to the University of Kansas School of Architecture reading room.

The reception will be at 3:30 p.m. today in the Hatch Reading Room in Marvin Hall. The public is invited to attend.

The Cassandra Black Memorial Collection, which includes monographs of architects, books on architectural theory and books about specific historical periods, dramatically expands the school's existing collection of more than 4,000 texts.

The new collection was made possible by a donation of $3,000 by the family of Cassandra Black, an architecture student from Columbia, Mo., who was killed in a car accident on her way home from Lawrence last year.

"These books are wonderful additions to the school's collection," said John Gaunt, dean of architecture. "I can think of no more fitting memorial to Cassie than the knowledge and inspiration that that they will provide for our students far into the future."

Books in the new collection include information about Peter Behrens, Craig Ellwood, Toyo Ito, Aldo Van Eyck, medieval and modern architecture, micro architecture, portable architecture, housing, structural engineering, sustainable architecture, urban design and landscape.