Norris Design Named AP Design’s Firm of the Year
Last month, Norris Design was honored with the Firm of the Year award by Kansas State University’s College of Architecture, Planning & Design (APDesign) — a recognition that celebrates the firm’s long-standing commitment to supporting the next generation of designers, planners, and innovators.
This award highlights professional design firms that make exceptional contributions to APDesign through mentorship, financial support, industry leadership, and meaningful engagement with students and faculty. Norris Design’s involvement with the program has been both broad and deeply impactful. Over the years, the firm has provided critical financial resources that have helped expand scholarship opportunities, ensuring that more students are able to pursue their academic and professional goals.
Beyond financial support, Norris Design has played an active role in shaping student experiences through internships and early-career employment opportunities. These positions give students and recent graduates the chance to immerse themselves in real-world practice, gain exposure to diverse project types, and develop the skills necessary to transition successfully into the profession. The firm’s engagement also extends to participation on advisory councils, where leaders from Norris Design share industry insights and help shape curriculum direction, as well as support faculty-led research initiatives that advance the fields of landscape architecture, planning, and design.
Norris Design was formally recognized at Kansas State University’s annual Design Expo, where Principal David Lane, PLA, Senior Associate Alyssa Butler, PLA, and Landscape Designer Erich Herbel accepted the award on behalf of the firm.