Best New Projects from SD Architects: Augustana University Kiln Enclosure

This month and next, Blueprint South Dakota will continue spotlighting the entries in the 2025 Design Awards competition. AIA South Dakota members again proved their creativity and problem-solving skills with beautifully functional work, on display in communities across South Dakota and beyond. Each installment in this series introduces readers to a different project, in the design team’s own words. As part of every entry form, AIA SD asked submitters to provide a “long description” that addressed the design intent and its progression. We invited submitters to go beyond the stats to show the value the project added for their client or community. In turn, they detailed the problems the project solved, told how their process made the most of hidden opportunities, and described the ways the design supports the client or community through form and function.

Augustana University Kiln Enclosure

The basics

Firm: TSP, Inc.
Client: Augustana University
Category: Small Project
Location: Sioux Falls, S.D.

The story

When Augustana University’s ceramics program transformation required a new kiln enclosure within a tight $150,000 budget, the design team created an innovative hybrid solution that reused existing structural elements while incorporating custom gateways for future equipment access and weather protection for the harsh Midwest climate.

This view shows the northeast elevation. Designed by TSP, Inc. for Augustana University. Photo credit: Chase Kramer.

By allowing faculty to select the distinctive green and red color scheme, the design enabled the new ceramics professor to make her architectural mark while delivering a practical, economical solution. The project was completed on time and budget in summer 2024, demonstrating how creative problem-solving can transform infrastructure constraints into opportunities that support both functional needs and academic community identity.