KU News Release

LAWRENCE — A trail shelter designed and built by 15 University of Kansas students in the School of Architecture, Design and Planning has received a merit award from the Kansas City chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Architecture students under the direction of Nils Gore, associate professor, created a shelter at the head of the new Rockefeller Prairie Trail, a nature trail at the KU Field Station, north of Lawrence. Completed in May, the shelter includes display panels with information about the trail and surrounding area as well as a place to sit, rest and enjoy the landscape.

The trailhead structure received one of three Design Excellence Merit Awards at the Kansas City chapter’s awards banquet Nov. 6. The shelter competed with about 70 other projects from across the region, designed by professional architects and built by professional contractors.

“Judges for the competition were impressed with both the design and craftsmanship of the structure,” said Gore. “They thought it was remarkable for work done by college students.”

The judges included Mark P. Sexton, a Chicago architect; Malcolm Holzman, a New York architect; and Susan Szenasy, editor in chief of Metropolis, an architectural magazine.

The nature trail and shelter, located about 10 miles north of the KU campus, are open to the public from dawn to dusk. The KU Field Station is administered by the Kansas Biological Survey, a nonregulatory research and service unit of the state of Kansas and KU.

The trail shelter was the second of two projects commissioned by the KU Field Station through Gore’s architectural studio. An overlook structure was completed in January 2009 by students in the fall 2008 class.

Funding for both projects was provided by Lawrence residents Dick and Sue Himes through KU Endowment. The lumber to build the structure was provided by Westar Energy and Kaw Valley Electric from recycled utility poles.

Photographs of the shelter design and construction process are on Gore's Web site.

All students who worked on the shelter are now seniors in KU’s master of architecture professional degree program, a five-year undergraduate degree that includes a year of graduate study. They were enrolled in Gore’s studio last spring. They are listed here by hometown, parents’ names and high schools (when available).

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Lawrence 66049
Matthew Gregory McKillip, Shawnee Mission East High School.

From Lenexa 66215
Teresa Christine Owens, daughter of Robert and Ruth Owens; Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

From Prairie Village 66208
Cade Austen Brummer, son of John and Amy Brummer; Shawnee Mission East High School.

ILLINOIS
From Glenview 60025
Jennifer Lynn Kosobud, daughter of Terry and Pamela Kosobud; Glenbrook South High School.

From Wheaton 60187
Charles Robert Russell, son of Stuart and Laurie Russell; Wheaton-Warrenville South High School.

MICHIGAN
From Olivet 49076
Patricia Ann Shaw, daughter of Walter and Vergie Shaw; Olivet High School.

MISSOURI
From Columbia 65202
Sarah Elizabeth Brengarth, daughter of Cindy and Jim Brengarth; Hickman High School.

From Grover 63040
Brian Patrick Kelly, son of Tim and Kay Kelly; Eureka (Mo.) High School.

From Hazelwood 63042 and Maryland Heights 63043
Michael Jonathan Prost, son of William Prost of Maryland Heights and Christina Kinroth of Hazelwood; McCluer North High School, Florissant.

From St. Louis 63017
Samuel C. Avery, son of John and Laurie Avery; Parkway West High School, Ballwin, Mo.

From St. Louis 63123
Alex John Rea, son of Donald and Cynthia Rea; Bishop Dubourg High School.

From St. Louis 63124
Molly Michael Kinsella, daughter of Michael and Sharon Kinsella; Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School.

From St. Louis 63126
Amanda Jean McVey, daughter of Tom and Barb McVey; Lindbergh High School.

From St. Louis 63127
Angela Marie Wright, daughter of Dr. Howard and Victoria Wright; Nerinx Hall High School.

From St. Louis 63129
John Michael Myers, son of John and Kathleen Myers; Desmet Jesuit High School.