November 6, 2017
APDesign professor Condia selected as Regnier distinguished faculty chair
Kansas State University, College of Architecture, Planning & Design professor Bob Condia, member of the American Institute of Architects, was selected as the Victor L. Regnier distinguished faculty chair in the architecture department.
Condia is an architect and design partner with Condia+Ornelas Architects, Manhattan. He teaches architecture as an art form with a wide variety considerations from neuroscience to a building's terrestrial and celestial alignments and metaphysics and poetics of architectural design.
Condia has been a studio critic for 30 years in both architecture and interior design. In 2008 he received the Commerce Bank Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award; in 2015 he received AIAKansas’ Schirmer Award for service. His publications range from monographs on the works of progressive architects to theoretical articles on the experience of space as well as a catalogue of his own surrealist illustrations. His recent works include topics on neuroscience and architecture, the biological basis of aesthetic experience and the craft of teaching architects to teach.
Condia earned his master's in architecture and building design at Columbia University in 1983, and a Bachelor of Architecture at California Polytechnic State University in 1980.
"As I visit alumni far and wide, professor Condia is consistently cited as the 'difference maker' — that faculty member who instilled the greatest sense of joy, passion and responsibility in them during their time in the program," said Tim de Noble, professor and dean, College of Architecture, Planning & Design. "It is fitting that he has been selected as the Regnier distinguished faculty chair."
"This is a well-deserved honor for professor Condia," said Matthew Knox, architecture department head. "His respect as a teacher of all things architecture is a major part of our program's success. His zest to understand the experience of architecture through neuroscience is an important avenue of research. I am particularly pleased that the chair will foster this work while creating rich opportunities for student involvement."
The Victor L. Regnier chair in architecture was established in 2002 by the children of Victor L. and Helen Regnier to enrich the educational experience of Kansas State University architecture students and to perpetuate the memory of Victor L. Regnier. It is design to recognize and retain the highest quality faculty in the department of architecture.