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In today’s increasingly dense and economically driven urban environments, fundamental aspects of well-being—light, air, and access to nature—are often overlooked. This course challenges architects to reclaim these essential human needs and rethink the design of urban infill housing. Participants will explore strategies for integrating natural ventilation, daylighting, multi-level outdoor spaces, sustainable stormwater management, and thoughtful—not maximum—density planning to enhance both individual and collective wellness. The course also advocates for architects to assume a greater leadership role, including acting as developers, which will enable more control over design priorities to improve health and wellness. Through case studies and practical strategies, participants will be equipped to rethink urban housing typologies, density, navigate restrictive entitlement processes, and deliver community-focused, health-centered infill housing that improves quality of life.

Woolsey Hall is named for the Wichita couple who provided the lead gift to the WSU Foundation’s fundraising campaign. The business school plans to move to the new building in 2022 from Clinton Hall, which has been its home since 1970. The structure is a three-level, LEED-certified building — the first building on the Wichita State campus to be LEED-certified. It was designed by the architectural team of GastingerWalker of Kansas City and Gensler Chicago. Dondlinger Construction of Wichita won the competitive bid to build the facility.

The Wichita Biomedical Campus (WBC) is a collaborative health sciences education and research hub located in downtown Wichita, Kansas. It's a partnership between the University of Kansas (KU), Wichita State University (WSU), and WSU Tech, aiming to consolidate their health-related programs into a state-of-the-art, interdisciplinary facility. The campus will house the Wichita campuses of KU School of Medicine and School of Pharmacy, along with health professions students from WSU and WSU Tech. This co-location is designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and interprofessional learning among future healthcare professionals. The initial phase of the WBC involves an eight-story, 350,000-square-foot building at the corner of Broadway and William, expected to accommodate approximately 3,000 students and 200 faculty and staff. It will feature advanced laboratories, simulation spaces, classrooms, workspaces, and a student center. The WBC aims to transform healthcare education in Kansas, address workforce shortages, drive biomedical innovation, and serve as a catalyst for downtown Wichita's revitalization by creating a healthcare corridor.

This interactive session explores the intersection of public art and occupant well-being by examining how large-scale wall murals contribute to healthier, safer, and more inclusive built environments. Participants will analyze the visual language of murals, color, form, narrative, and symbolism, and how these elements support psychological comfort, spatial orientation, and cultural affirmation in public spaces. Through a hands-on activity, attendees will select elements from the murals and reinterpret them into paper mosaics, reinforcing how design decisions, even in artistic expression, can shape experiences that foster mental health, reduce visual stress, and promote social cohesion. This session highlights how integrating thoughtful public art into architectural environments supports HSW objectives and improves quality of life in the communities we serve.

The Allen House, nestled in the charming College Hill neighborhood was Frank Lloyd Wright’s final Prairie‑style residence (completed 1918). The structure embodies his signature horizontal lines, overhanging eaves, and seamless integration of nature and living space. Commissioned by Kansas Governor Henry J. Allen and his wife Elsie, it merges Japanese influences from Wright’s Imperial Hotel period, seen in its square plan, enclosed lily pool, and garden. The tour begins at the airy entry, where the brick flows from exterior to interior, blurring interior/exterior boundaries. Visitors will explore the sunken living room—hailed as “one of the great rooms of the 20th century”—and its expansive art glass windows that draw light into the space. Participants will discover Wright’s innovative features—wall‑hung water closets, central vacuum, integrated firewall behind the garage, and “nostrils” for passive ventilation—all ahead of their time. Tour concludes in the courtyard garden, reflecting Wright’s organic architecture philosophy—living in harmony with nature.

Olson Kundig is a collaborative design practice whose work spans built and natural landscapes. Founded in the Pacific Northwest and initially known for its residential work, the firm has since evolved into a global practice encompassing projects of all types and scales, while remaining grounded in sensitivity to site, celebration of craft, and a commitment to collaboration throughout the design process. In this session, Olson Kundig principal/owner Kevin Kudo-King will explore strategies for immersive design at the intersections of site, craft, and collaboration. Responsive architecture goes beyond capturing a site’s physical qualities, it reflects the non-physical qualities—culture, history, and collective memory—in built form. Craft reveals this context through a tactile connection to local building traditions, transforming architecture into a layered experience that intimately reveals place. The most successful projects integrate these elements through a process in which the architect is an extension of the builders and craftspeople, engaging them through every phase to shape the outcome. Through case study of relevant projects, Kevin will share examples of how these philosophies shape transformative, experiential architecture for users.