Allen Fieldhouse architect Warren Corman dies at age of 99
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- Warren Corman, Allen Fieldhouse architect, died at age 99.
- Corman served 31 years as KU Board of Regents facilities director.
- Corman oversaw $500M in projects, impacting KU athletics and academics.
Warren Corman, director of facilities for the Kansas Board of Regents for 31 years and one of the seven architects who designed Allen Fieldhouse, died Thursday at the age of 99, the Corman family informed KU officials.
A KU men’s basketball ticket holder for more than 60 years, Corman and his wife, Mary, also have been regulars at both basketball and football weekly Hawk Talk coaches shows. KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self, during the broadcast, regularly would ask Corman questions about the history of the tradition-rich building and details about the construction of the structure.
“Warren Corman played an integral role in what Kansas basketball is today as one the architects who designed Allen Fieldhouse,” Self said Thursday in a news release.
“Cindy (Self’s wife) 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,” Self added.
KU athletic director Travis Goff said: “Warren Corman’s legacy will forever be woven into the fabric of the University of Kansas with his incredible contributions to Allen Fieldhouse. 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: James Canole, Frank Johnson, Charles Marshall, Robert Jokish, Robert Schober and Thornton Beck.
Six of KU’s eight all-time head basketball coaches played their home games in Allen Fieldhouse, all friends of Corman.
Corman was a 1950 KU graduate with a degree in architecture engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1966 he was recruited to be the state Board of Regents director of facilities, holding the position 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.
Upon retiring from the regents post in 1997, Corman was hired as university architect and special assistant to the chancellor at KU. Corman has been integral to the completion of numerous construction projects, including the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics and the School of Engineering’s Eaton Hall. He retired from that post in 2010.
In 2004, Corman received the Distinguished Engineering Service Award from KU’s engineering school. In 2019, he and Mary Corman were honored with the Homecoming Spirit of 1912, recognizing KU grads who display school spirit, pride and tradition.
This story was originally published August 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Allen Fieldhouse architect Warren Corman dies at age of 99."
