October 22, 2012
Read all about it: Architecture students' designs featured in The New York Times
Submitted by Communications & Marketing
When The New York Times called, Kansas State University College of Architecture, Planning and Design students answered.
The Times was searching for architecture students to design innovative solutions to a persistent problem: Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open is the last major tennis venue in the world without a roof or a plan for one. Every year it seems, and 2012 was no different, the U.S. Open is delayed due to rain. However, many think adding a roof to the existing stadium would not be feasible due to the weight and the soft ground on which the stadium sits.
The sports desk at the Times thought it would be interesting to pose the problem to architecture students and see what creative responses they could design.
Time was tight, and the Times needed drawings and information in only 48 hours because the end of the U.S. Open was approaching. Torgeir Norheim, associate professor of architecture, knew the 13 fifth-year architecture students in his studio could meet the deadline.
The students not only met the deadline, they exceeded the expectations of The New York Times editor, who was unable to find one other architecture college to agree to take on the challenge.
"Even though I know better, I am continually amazed at the willingness of our students to take on complex challenges such as this one posed by The New York Times to conceive a kinetic roof for Arthur Ashe stadium in such a short time frame," said Tim de Noble, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design. "Once again, I am reminded not only of our students' can-do spirit, but also of their incredible design inventiveness, shepherded by great faculty such as Torgeir Norheim."
For their efforts, the students' work was published in a full-page layout on the back page of the Times on Monday, Sept. 10.
You can see a PDF of the New York Times page here: www.k-state.edu/media/images/oct12/nytimespage.pdf, or check out the online slideshow on the Times' website: www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/09/10/sports/tennis/10roof-ss.html?hp.