Seaton Hall is more than a building.
For APDesign students, Seaton Hall has been a launchpad where ideas are sketched late at night, where friendships are forged and where futures are built. Today we have an opportunity — and an urgent need — to breathe new life into the first floor of Seaton Central.
Join us in creating the future of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design. Together, we can ensure that Seaton continues to inspire and equip generations of Wildcats to come.
Our challenge
Working in the past
The College of Architecture, Planning and Design is thriving.
Enrollment has grown nearly 33% in the past five years, and our retention rates are 7–8% above the university average. Students want to be here and stay here.
The only downside of our world-class reputation is, ironically, space. We are educating more than 1,000 students in a facility designed for 800. In addition to stretching the facilities’ capacity, students, faculty, alumni and other college visitors have noted the lack of classroom flexibility and accessibility, as well as environmental issues such as inadequate temperature control and dim, outdated lighting.
Our opportunity
Designing the future
The renovated Seaton Central will feature a dynamic and welcoming “front porch” for the college that reflects our reputation now and into the future.
The new Seaton Central entry will celebrate our signature programs and address critical deferred maintenance and accessibility issues. In addition to a new ramp and stairs, the new design will reopen historic windows.
With our steady growth and the addition of the interior design program to the college, this project will bring all our programs under one roof, mirroring our commitment to inclusive, collaborative and interdisciplinary design.
More than 15,000 sf on the first floor and basement will be brought up to modern standards.
Our commitment
Project budget and funding options
Seaton Central
The funding plan features a 60/40 match of every philanthropic dollar raised. It also includes a philanthropic commitment for a required building sustainability and maintenance fund.
| Kansas Campus Restoration Act (State of Kansas) | $3,900,000 |
| APDesign College commitment | $800,000 |
| Philanthropic need (includes 10% sustainability and 5% UAF) | $2,084,211 |
| Total funding | $6,784,211 |
Philanthropic goal
APDesign’s philanthropic goal for this project is to raise $3M to create transformative spaces and invest in its people and programs.
The Bernd Foerster Classroom (Seaton 057)
As one of the most heavily used lecture spaces on campus, transforming this classroom into a “next-generation” learning environment will elevate the experience for students across the university. With funding already secured, we have a unique opportunity to merge two projects into one impactful upgrade for Seaton Central.
| Kansas Campus Restoration Act (State of Kansas) | $600,000 |
| Flip this Classroom | $400,000 |
| Total funding | $1,000,000 |
This renovation represents an investment of $8.7 million, ensuring a transformative upgrade to meet the university’s future needs.
| January 2026 | Design team begins |
| March 2026 | Fundraising begins |
| June 2027 | Construction begins |
| August 2028 | Occupancy |
