The institute was founded in 1861, but the Civil War prevented enrollment until 1865. That year, the first students began classes in MIT's four departments, one of which was architecture. The American Institute of Architecture's Kansas chapter was chartered in 1921. Kansas began licensing architects in 1949. To receive a license, the architect must show proficiency in a dozen different areas, says Trudy Arons, executive director of AIA Kansas.
Architects do much more than design what is seen on the outside.
Interior architects are currently in demand for redesigning spaces for preservation, says Ray Weisenburger, associate dean in K-State's College of Architecture. A recent project by K-State students created restoration plans for six theaters around the state. Product design is also a specialty. Landscape architects plan parks, open spaces, golf courses, and also do urban design, Weisenburger said. When it comes to homes, builders in Kansas are allowed to work a cappella.