Current and former architecture students presented the design for the Coretta Scott King Gardens of Engagement at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the K-State Student Union Little Theatre. The event marked the initial collaboration and professional partnership between K-State Diversity and Dual Career Development, the National Organization of Minority Architect Students (NOMAS), and the international architectural firm HOK (Hellmuth, Obata, and Kassabaum).

The gardens represent the effort of this partnership to enhance the space around the current bust of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. located near the southeast corner of Ahearn Field House. This project honors King’s historic university address on Jan. 19, 1968, at K-State before his death.

“This is the most significant project NOMAS has been involved with,” said La Barbara Wigfall, faculty adviser for NOMAS. “To provide this type of service to the university is not an opportunity that a lot of students have.”

NOMAS is the interdisciplinary student professional group within the College of Architecture, Planning, and Design at K-State. Architecture students involved in NOMAS developed the conceptual design for the gardens nearly two years ago. One of the presenters and K-State graduate in architecture, David Hildebrandt, described the design to look like a three-ring ven diagram with the bust in the center. The rings will represent three components of King’s philosophy: reflection, education and action.

“The bust is in the center to symbolize King as the anchor of the whole garden, and these three ideas,” said Hildebrandt.

The reflection ring will consist of the community gardens, the education ring will include an outside classroom space, and the action ring  will include an inspirational wall representing a timeline of King’s life.

The gardens will not only serve as a landmark, but also present the K-State community with a compelling space to gather, learn and meditate.

“It’s also a great spot for new and prospective students,” said Jeremy Anterola, senior in landscape architecture and member of NOMAS. “The project goes along with university plans to relocate New Student Services.”

NOMAS enlisted the support of HOK with the help of Wigfall, and Myra Gordon, associate provost for diversity. HOK representative and K-State graduate, Andrew Kilmer, said the firm is committed to assisting the students in implementing the phases of the project without interfering with the original student design. As a leader in sustainable design and diversity within the industry, this partnership will allow students to gain valuable knowledge and professional experience.

“K-State is in the process of creating many corporate partnerships to advance diversity,” Gordon said. “We need a cultural competence to function well domestically and internationally.”   

NOMAS will work toward the completion of the project with HOK through participation in a class.

“Not only is it a tremendous and rare opportunity for students to work professionally,” Anterola said, “it’s also great for HOK to be able to collaborate and give back to the community.”

A panel of HOK professionals followed the presentation to allow students to ask questions about the firm and its involvement in the project. HOK representatives will be visiting the campus on a regular basis to guide and advise students on documentation, materials, and construction issues.

Comments

2 comments

J.Royster MLA'84

Fri Nov 7 2008 12:46

Congratulations to all involved College of AP&D students and faculty on this great project that will serve the entire university community. This continues decades of excellence that have produced leaders throughout the architectural, planning and landscape architecture professions. Thanks to HOK for their time and support.

G.Freeman

Thu Nov 6 2008 08:42

Is it necessary for the University to start another ambitious construction project at a time when our researchers have had their budgets cut and faculty are being asked to donate part of their paychecks to alleviate University debt? This garden sounds unnecessary to begin with.

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