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. Architectural plans for a single-family residence are considered a luxury, says Robert Slemmons, a Topeka architect whose credits include the Shawnee County Jail.
Pencils are still better and faster at exploring ideas.
The computers does help the architect score his presentation of what he designed with pencil and paper. And they give quick access to information on the engineering details, such as structure and air flow, he says. There will be no shortage of architects in the future, the academics say. K-State's College of Architecture graduates about 100 students each year. From the pyramids of Egypt to the medeival cathedrals of Europe to the Gothic tower of Topeka High, the builders' vision is for the ages.