Kortney Rowe | 5th year - Master of Interior Architecture
College of Architecture, Planning, & Design | Kansas State University
Education
Master of Interior Architecture Graduating May 2025
5th Year Graduate Student
College of Architecture Planning & Design
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
4.0 Graduate & 3.9 Undergraduate GPA
Study Abroad Spring 2024
Architecture, Design, & Italian Culture
APDesign Italian Studies Program
Orvieto, Italy
Master’s Thesis Fall 2024- Spring 2025
Art Education
Conducting research in the importance of art education for K-12 students and identifying elements that contribute to the success of an educational environment. This research will inform the design of a community center dedicated to the arts.
OFS Furniture Studio Fall 2024- Spring 2025
Furniture Redesign
Working in collaboration with OFS Furniture to redesign a commercial furniture piece with the goal of future manufacturing.
Leadership
IAID Student Council 2021-2022
College of Architecture Peer Educator Fall 2022
Panhellenic Council Representative Fall 2022
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Honors & Awards
5th Year Fellowship Fall 2024-Spring 2025
Grove IAID Imagination Scholarship 2024-2025
IAID Excellence Fund Fall 2023-Spring 2024
Doornbos Study Abroad Scholarship Spring 2024
Dean’s Italian Studies Scholarship Spring 2024
Weigel Foundation Scholarship 2021-2022
Fairchild Terrace Scholarship 2021-2024
Deans List 2020-Present
Kortney Rowe
p. 316.559.3772
e. kortneyr@ksu.edu
ig. @kortneydesinsta
Experience
Intern | Gensler Summer 2024 | Houston, TX
Assisted the Work 2 Studio group in the design of a ninety floor office building. Completed tasks including spatial planning, client presentation renderings, construction documentation, etc. Collaborated with intern class to complete the research and design of a homeless rehabilitation and housing center.
Dean’s Assistant | Fall 2024- Current Communications and Design Position
College of Architecture Planning and Design
Assist with graphics, college-wide events, and errands for the office of the Dean.
Intern | John A. Marshall Co. Summer 2022 | Wichita, KS
MillerKnoll Dealership
Shadowed and assisted designers with projects and site visits. Met with & observed client meetings. Assisted with material library organization.
Student Ambassador | 2023-2024 | Manhattan, KS
Welcomed potential students to College of Architecture Planning & Design as well as Kansas State as a whole. Facilitated tours and assisted with office tasks.
Summer Design Experience Staff | Summer 2023
Assisted with the week long camp put on by the College of Architecture for high school students interested in design. This role involved being a counselor, teacher, and overall allowed me to share my passion for design.
Recruitment Guide | Summer 2022
Assisted with Panhellenic sorority recruitment.
Skills
Software
Adobe Fresco
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Indesign
Adobe Photoshop
Autocad
Bluebeam
Enscape
Keyshot
Revit
Rhino 3D
Personal
Collaboration
Furniture Fabrication
Graphic Communication
Model Building
Prototyping
Revitalization of Kensington Library
Semester
Project Type
Location
Collaborators
Fall 5th Year
Architecture
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nia Reneau, Peter Klein, Abi Sachs
Software
With choosing Kensington Library for our project, we decided to focus on expanding upon and improving the services the library offered along with filling in the gaps of services that should and need to be provided. Focusing our project on the library allows us to address the education and resource deficit of the area in the hopes of diminishing the opioid crisis through upstream and downstream solutions.
Concept:
“Stacked” refers to an arrangement of spaces or elements that maximize functionality and aesthetic appeal within a limited footprint. This approach will involve layering of different users, such as adults, teens, and children into a cohesive structure that promotes interaction and efficient use of resources. By stacking these spaces, the Kensington Library can create dynamic environments that not only optimize views and natural light but also encourage social engagement and connectivity among the Kensington Community.
1 Design a space that enhances the existing Kensington Library
2 Appeal to a variety of users by reducing barriers to educational and resource access
3 Strengthen the community through the creation of gathering spaces to foster community interactions on a personal level
4 Provide a 3rd space for community members
5 Supply staff and community members with resources essential for harm reduction
Primary Interior Staircase
Cafe Seating
Cafe Maker-Space
Secondary Reception Desk
Computer Lab
Children’s Story-Time Area
The mural’s purpose is to bring in Philly’s culture by hiring a local artist to paint the vision for the new Kensington Library.
1st Floor Stair and Cafe Seating
2nd Floor Teen Space
Metis | Dining Chair
Fall 5th Year
Furniture Design
Building Techniques
Metis explores the delicate balance between organic form and functional design, inspired by the graceful shape of butterfly wings. The chair’s steam-bent legs and plywood formed seat and back create a harmonious blend of craftsmanship and nature, evoking the fragility and elegance of a butterfly. The gentle curves of the legs and contours of the seat are thoughtfully designed to not only provide structural support but to also mirror the lightness and beauty of the insect’s wings. Metis aims to offer both aesthetic delight and comfort, transforming the dining experience.
Throughout my time in college, I have developed a deep interest in steam bending as a craft, appreciating both the technical skill and creative potential it offers. I am particularly drawn to the iterative process it involves, which allows for continuous refinement and exploration of form which has significantly influenced my design approach. SteamBending,PlywoodForming,WoodLamination, Veneer Application, Hidden Joinery
Semester
Project Type
36”
Knotted | Craft Store & Retail Shop
Spring 3rd Year
Retail Interior, Workshop, Product Design
Naples, Florida
Knotted Craft store, located in Naples, Florida, offers product as well as a meeting space to craftlovers. Specializing in three main crafts, Knotted offers products in knitting, crochet, and quilting. The building site sits on a busy corner of an upscale shopping center in the heart of Naples. This corner allows two facades to display local crafters work as well as advertise the possibilities to be made with the products inside. The multi- use workshop offers a space for customers to host social clubs centered around their crafts. In these they can learn from each other and create a community rooted at Knotted. Employees are also able to teach in the space and grow the crafting community of Naples.
Concept
Inspired by the same materials Knotted derives its form from the same craft it sells. The parti is a winding line that mimics the way string is woven. The parti takes its form within the ceiling as a lighting element.
Parti
Quilt
Knitted
Crochet
Yarn
Quilting
Quilting
Class
Back
Shipping
Break
Ideation
Workshop
This is a multi-use space designed to form community around Knotted. The furniture selection further pushes this idea of a transformable space. The tables are sit-to-stand for all different crafts and seats for the different postures. The curtain that encloses the room brings a sense of soft architecture to the space that is otherwise open.
Furniture Selection
Through the study of crafting postures
Kompan Office
Semester
4th Year
Workplace Interior
18,000 sf
Kompan, founded in Belgium by sculptor Tom Lindhardt, is a leading company in designing and producing playground equipment. For my first graduate level studio project, we were tasked with designing a multi level office space for a company of our choice. I chose Kompan because of the possibilities of creating a playful space for working adults. Located in the heart of downtown St. Louis, the office achieves this idea of playfulness through the integration of playground equipment throughout. By combining work with play the space transforms into a collaborative and multi functional environment for over 100 employees.
Using the playground equipment within the office spaces helps to break up the monotony of everyday work life. This idea of playfulness is pushed further though the use of primary pops of color.
Ground Floor Primary Space
The first floor staircase is designed to be a center for gathering. It features seating in a free flowing form as well as landscaping. Underneath, this staircase houses the primary conference room.
First Floor Primary Space
Like the ground floor, the first floor features a primary staircase with a built-in seating element. This space also incorporates a versatile collaborative space.
Groove | Coffee Table
Semester Location
Project Type
Spring 3rd Year
Manhattan, Kansas
Furniture design
Groove, a collector’s coffee table, is designed after the Scandinavian Modern Movement and intended for a young family. The central focus of the design as the name (Groove) celebrates are the ridges that run lengthwise on the top of the table. These grooves are intended to give the table a texture that is welcoming to the user. The grooves invites hands as well as coffee cups, magazines, etc. The rounded corners that repeat throughout the design are common in this movements style. Overall, Groove combines minimalism with peaks of interest to engage the user.
