LAWRENCE, Kan. – Warren Corman, a fixture in the rich history of the Kansas Athletics and University of Kansas architecture, died August 28, in Lawrence, the Corman family informed KU officials. The last of the seven architects that built Allen Fieldhouse to pass, Corman was 99 years old.
A KU men’s basketball season ticket holder for more than 60 years, Corman, and his wife, Mary, were regulars at both football and men’s basketball weekly Hawk Talk radio shows and deeply passionate about the Jayhawks.
“Warren Corman's legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of the University of Kansas with his incredible contributions to Allen Fieldhouse,” Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff said. “That historic venue would not be what it is today without Warren. We will miss his amazing stories and his passion for KU but cherish the time we have had with him. The KU Athletics' family sends our love and condolences to Mary and the entire family."
Corman was the youngest of the architects on the Allen Fieldhouse project. The others included James Canole, Frank Johnson, Charles Marshall, Robert Jokish, Robert Schober, and Thornton Beck. Six of Kansas’ eight all-time coaches played their home contests in Allen Fieldhouse and all developed a relationship with Corman.
“Warren Corman played an integral role in what Kansas basketball is today as one the architects who designed Allen Fieldhouse,” Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self said. “Cindy and I truly enjoyed getting to know Warren and Mary over the years and listening to Warren tell stories about his role with the University. He had such a wealth of knowledge about everything KU. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mary and his family.
“KU lost a treasure in Warren.”
A 1950 architecture engineering graduate from KU who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Corman had a major impact on the learning environment encountered by the state's college students. In 1966, he was recruited by the Kansas Board of Regents to be director of facilities, a position he held for 31 years. During his tenure, Corman worked with all the regents institutions, overseeing planning and construction on more than 300 construction projects, valued at more than $500 million.
Corman also was instrumental in two public policy actions that continue to serve Kansans: the State Building Advisory Committee, which greatly reduced the opportunity for corruption, and Crumbling Classrooms, widely recognized as the single most important facilities repair-and-rehabilitation funding project in regents history.