Chris Fein

Chris Fein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture within the College of Architecture, Planning and Design at Kansas State University, where he has been a faculty member since 2010, initially as a Visiting Assistant Professor before joining permanently in 2020.

He holds a B.Arch from Kansas State University and an M.Arch from Yale University, where he was awarded two design studio Teaching Fellowships. He is a registered architect in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois, a LEED-accredited professional, and a member of NCARB.

His research focuses on post-World War II modernist architecture, particularly through the lenses of preservation, building adaptation, and architectural history. He is actively engaged in scholarly and advocacy work, including co-leading a National Park Service/Kansas SHPO Historic Preservation Fund Grant to survey modern architecture in Manhattan, KS. He has published on modern architecture in Kansas, including in Docomomo US.

Chris is a co-founder and board member of Plains Modern, a preservation advocacy organization, and has served on the board of KCmodern since 2011. His firm, FORWARD Design | Architecture, has earned numerous awards, reflecting excellence in design and historic restoration.

• AIA Kansas City President’s Award
• Three AIA Central States Design Awards
• Seven AIA Kansas Design Awards
• Two Preservation Awards from Historic Kansas City
• Multiple local and regional design publication awards

With a strong commitment to design education and community engagement, Fein bridges professional practice, academic scholarship, and preservation advocacy. His work is regularly published in national and local outlets, and he mentors students through design education and applied research.