School awards, honors Dan Rockhill

Thursday, October 25, 2007

KU professor Dan Rockhill, who established a hands-on program for architecture students that gained national attention, was awarded a distinguished professorship from the School of Architecture.

Rockhill started Studio 804 12 years ago. The program allows students to be involved in the design and construction of a home each year, one of which was named “Home of the Year” by “Architecture Magazine.”

John Gaunt, dean of architecture and urban planning, said, “804 isn’t absolutely unique in architecture education, but it has become one of, if not the, best known design program in the country. Virtually, all schools in the country are aware of the program.”

What makes this studio so unique is that students have to participate in the entire process of building a home. The students deal with public officials, zoning laws and different types of technology. Students built nine homes in Lawrence and Kansas City, Kan.

“He’s not going to do it for us,” Lindsey Evans, Vellenezille, Ill. senior, said. “He always says we’re the architect and we’re the ones designing this project.”

Rockhill’s students are currently exploring sites in Kansas City, Kan., to build their home this year.

“The students are right in the middle of it, developing a real hands-on sense of what it takes to build a building and that’s invaluable,” Gaunt said.

Jenny Kivett, Victoria graduate student, said that because she didn’t have experience working in a firm, Studio 804 acted as an internship for her.

“He’s always pushed me to the limit; to do more than I ever thought I could do,” Kivett said. “That’s pretty rare in a professor.”

Along with Studio 804, Rockhill works for Rockhill and Associates, an architecture firm that promotes progressive design. Rockhill said his experience with the firm went hand-in-hand with his teaching.

“If I didn’t have the experience with Rockhill and Associates, I don’t think I would be doing what I’m doing,” Rockhill said. “There’s no [academic] subject for real world experience, so being able to bring that into the classroom is important.”

Rockhill, who has been at the University for 27 years, was awarded the J.L. Constant Distinguished Professor of Architecture award based off of his innovative architectural design and building practices, and was honored at an all-school meeting. The professorship was approved by the University after going through a thorough review process.

“It’s nice to be recognized locally no matter what extent of recognition you’ve received elsewhere,” Rockhill said. “What we do is highly visible, and therefore controversial, so it’s nice to have some recognition of it as an achievement.”

—Edited by Meghan Murphy

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