A reimagined Seaton Central will give APDesign students more room to create, collaborate and turn bold ideas into meaningful work.
By Thom Jackson, College of Architecture, Planning and Design
For generations, Seaton Hall has stood as the creative heart of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, or APDesign, at Kansas State University.
Its studios have shaped architects, landscape architects, planners, interior architects, product designers and interior designers whose work has transformed communities throughout Kansas and beyond.
Now APDesign is preparing for its next transformation.
More than a construction project, the Seaton Central renovation represents the next phase of a decades-long vision to create learning environments that support innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and a rapidly growing student body — all while honoring a rich history that has made Seaton Hall one of K‑State’s most recognizable academic buildings, which brings back alumni to reshape the spaces where they honed their craft.
Building on a proven investment
When APDesign completed its landmark renovation in fall 2017, the impact was immediate.
More than 81% of the college’s assignable square footage was transformed, replacing facilities that had operated for decades with significant deferred maintenance and spaces that no longer reflected contemporary design education. Modern studios, technology-rich classrooms and collaborative environments transformed not only the appearance of the building — they fundamentally changed how students interacted and learned together.
The renovation also increased enrollment capacity, allowing APDesign to welcome more students while maintaining the immersive studio culture that defines the college.
But today the college once again finds itself at capacity.
An opportunity takes shape
In late 2023, university leadership decided to move the interior design program from the College of Health and Human Sciences into APDesign.
The academic transition created an equally important opportunity for facilities.
To make room for the program, APDesign began planning renovations to space within Seaton Hall. This is a chance not simply to add square footage, but to envision how the building could better serve every discipline within the college.
Generous private donor support matched with funding from the Kansas Campus Restoration Act spurred the project forward.
Designing the next generation of learning
The proposed renovation includes:
- Two new design laboratories
- A 40-seat classroom
- A lighting and applied design laboratory
- A consolidated materials laboratory
- A digital technology laboratory
- A permanent home for the Institute for Community Design & Research (ICDR)
- Three faculty offices
- A two-level rotunda celebrating APDesign’s history and showcasing student work
The renovation’s evolving design emphasizes flexibility and collaboration, creating spaces where students from multiple disciplines naturally intersect throughout the day.
Coming home
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Seaton Central project is the number of APDesign alumni involved in designing the building’s future.
Among the design team is Hannah Harris, an interior designer and APDesign graduate whose experience as a student informs every design decision.
“Having studied here, I understand how every hallway, studio and gathering space becomes part of a student’s education,” she said. “Designing these spaces feels incredibly personal because we’re creating places where future students will develop the same lifelong connections that shaped my own experience.”
For Charlie Vega, design team client leader, the project carries special meaning.
“Returning to campus as both an alumnus and design professional is an extraordinary opportunity,” he said. “We understand the culture of APDesign because we lived it. That perspective allows us to design spaces that respect the building’s legacy while preparing it for its next generation.”
More than new space
When completed, the renovation will increase APDesign’s assignable space by 9,672 square feet while reducing the college’s remaining unrenovated space inventory to just 7.56%.
The numbers, however, only tell part of the story.
Every new studio builds collaboration. Every laboratory supports emerging technologies. Every gathering space strengthens the community that has defined APDesign for generations.
Most importantly, the renovation positions the college to continue growing while ensuring students learn in facilities that reflect the excellence of its nationally recognized academic programs.
A legacy continued
For nearly a century, Seaton Hall has evolved alongside the professions it serves.
Each generation has adapted the building to meet new challenges while preserving APDesign’s collaborative spirit.
The Seaton Central renovation represents the next chapter in that story.
“Seaton Hall has always been much more than a building — it is where generations of designers discover their passions, develop lifelong friendships and learn to shape the world around them,” said Michael McClure, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design. “This renovation reflects our commitment to providing learning environments that match the excellence of our students, faculty and programs, ensuring APDesign continues to lead design education for decades to come.”
It’s a project shaped not only by architects, engineers and designers but also by alumni returning home, faculty envisioning the future, donors investing in students, and a community committed to keeping Seaton Hall one of the nation’s great places to study design.
Your turn
Want to help move this project forward? Contact Damon Fairchild to make your gift. 785-775-2086
damonf@ksufoundation.org
Firms and K-Staters on the project
Hollis + Miller
Charlie Vega ’07
Nicolas Bock ’01
Josh Gaddy, current student
Morgan Bratt, current student
Hannah Harris ’24
Smith & Boucher Engineers
Chris Albright ’98
Allied Works
STAND Structural Engineering