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Our History

The Kansas City Design Center grew out of the Regents Center for Architectural Studies, a joint initiative between the architecture programs at KU and KSU established in 1988.

In 1992, the Kansas City Center for Design Education and Research was established to coordinate and facilitate undergraduate and graduate professional education, conduct urban related design research, provide professional development and public education programs, and conduct community-wide public service activities. The name of the organization was simplified to Kansas City Design Center in 1994.

In June 2003, the KCDC was incorporated as a Missouri not-for-profit, and has since been certified as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service.