Dual Roles of Administrators

Architecture Dean Promotes Universal Design Through Observational Research  

BY LANDON MION & GEENA LAWRENCE 

KENNESAW, Ga. (Jun 2020) —  Andrew Payne,  who joined KSU as  dean of the College of Architecture and Construction Management  in January 2020,  found his interest in architectural research through his desire to want people to enjoy the space in which they occupy.   
 
“Through observation, I can see the serious impact that  architectural  spaces have on a person’s attitude,” said Payne, also a  professor of architecture.  “For example, my involvement in higher education has led me to notice that classroom spaces do not always support learning, so I have started to research possible architectural designs that create  a more comfortable and flexible environment for students and teachers.”  
 
Payne’s research involves observing people in their environment to better understand how a design Andrew Paynecan be implemented for the use by people with ranging abilities.  Universal design is a niche that focuses on the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability or other factors.   For example, a delivery driver using a dolly and a person using a wheelchair have differing abilities, but  both need to utilize a ramp.  
 
“I became a designer because I have always appreciated building designs and since my dad was a contractor, it has always been a part of my life,” he said.  “I was very interested in architecture and it fed into my creative and artistic mind. Engineering and art were my main interest areas in high school when I was exploring career options, and those combined made architecture an obvious choice.”  
 
Observing a variety of  people and having the opportunity to learn about people with different backgrounds is what Payne said makes his research  interesting and enjoyable.  He was also interested in how architecture impacts social groups, diverse groups, and looking into buildings designed for certain groups.  Additionally, he was fascinated with the unknown and personal aspect of his architectural research.  
 
Payne became a researcher because he felt he could have an impact on people’s lives by creating better designs.  He said that creating better designs comes through research in finding out what  works  and what  needs improvement.  Architectural design can have  a  serious impact on people’s attitudes toward the  place,  so he feels his research is very important.  
 
“I want to continue to contribute my expertise to the field, whether it be in a classroom in a teaching environment or again as a consultant to a client,” said Payne.  “There  are  always opportunities for new research to be generated but I really enjoy doing work for clients where the result is going to be a real-world scenario and I know we can implement real change.”  
 
 
 
 

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