Weisenburger's lifelong commitment to design, planning earns honor from American Institute of Architects Kansas
Monday, Sept. 16, 2013
MANHATTAN -- The American Institute of Architects Kansas has recognized Kansas State University's Ray Weisenburger with one of its highest honors, the Henry W. Schirmer Distinguished Service Award.
Weisenburger is a professor emeritus of landscape architecture and regional and community planning.
The award recognizes an individual member who has provided distinguished leadership and service to the Kansas organization and/or the national organization over an extended period of time, and who has advanced the profession and provided inspiration to his or her fellow practitioners.
In his 46-year teaching career at Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning and Design, Weisenburger made historic preservation an emphasis in the classroom, community and across the state of Kansas. Among the courses he taught was Urban Design and Preservation Theory, introducing countless students to the importance of preservation. He served as a faculty mentor for university community service projects dealing with revitalization, renovation and preservation in communities across the state, including Atchison, Herington, Leoti, Liberal, Newton and Sterling.
A longtime member of the American Institute of Architects and its Kansas organization, Weisenburger also has been an officer and member of the Kansas Preservation Alliance, serving as its liaison to the American Institute of Architects Historic Resources Committee from 1996-2007. He served on the Kansas State Historic Sites Review Board from 1981-1985 and on Manhattan's Urban Area Planning Board from 1981-1999, including as chair from 1985-1987 and 1995-1997. He also has served on the Manhattan Historic Resources Board, the city of Manhattan's Core Downtown Redevelopment Committee and the Building Advisory Committee for the state of Kansas.
"Professor Weisenburger's involvement in community service and advocacy of design and design-thinking in public decision-making serve as a poignant exemplar for students and practitioners, past, present and future," said Tim de Noble, dean of Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning and Design. "Coupled with his lifelong engagement in practice, these selfless efforts have advanced the course of architecture, landscape architecture and planning in our state and beyond."
In 2010, the Kansas Preservation Alliance honored Weisenburger with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his longtime efforts to further the cause of preservation in the state.
A registered architect and landscape architect, Weisenburger earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and started his architecture career in Kansas City and then in Chicago. He next attended Cornell University, where he earned his master's degree in regional planning. It was at Cornell where he worked with faculty members who raised his interest in historic preservation.
His career at Kansas State University including serving as a professor of architecture, landscape architecture and regional and community planning. He also served as associate dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design from 1993-2005. He retired in December 2010.
