Brenna Buchanan thought a Kansas University architecture class about the history of Lawrence’s downtown would be easy.

“Not at all; it’s the hardest class I’ve taken all semester,” the Lawrence native said.

Buchanan, 27, along with nine other undergraduate students, signed up in December for Special Problems in Architecture: the Architecture and History of Downtown Lawrence taught by Dennis Domer.

Domer is a retired KU architecture and American studies professor. In 1998, he taught a class about the history of downtown and used a book he wrote with retired KU staff member Barbara Watkins called “Embattled Lawrence: Conflict & Community.”

Because of his knowledge and love for downtown, what he deems a “national treasure,” Domer was asked by Downtown Lawrence Inc. to consider a project involving walking tours to attract more people downtown. Because he spends months traveling the world studying and documenting the historical and stylistic changes in different cities’ architecture, he decided to train students to give tours.

“I think not only will it bring people downtown so they can see what a great place we have,” said Jane Pennington, director of Downtown Lawrence Inc. “I think it helps preserve the history of downtown and helps people understand how historic our city really is.”

On April 24, the class took its first of four walking tours, led by senior Shaun Henry. Henry pointed out the intricacies often unnoticed by passersby of each building.

Students were also responsible for interviewing a merchant and a person who frequents downtown as well as completing an architectural and historical analysis. The class has created a database of its research, which will help students create themed tours in the future.

Domer described Lawrence’s downtown as fragile. In many cities, the downtown locations have been left abandoned as urban sprawl draws people away from the central location of a place like Massachusetts Street.

“It can only be supported by people who are knowledgeable,” he said. “And once they are knowledgeable, they will love it. And they may love it, but they don’t know how to defend it. It needs to be defended generation after generation for so many reasons.”

A main lesson he taught his students is that people are key – namely, business owners.

“The key is to understand it’s all about people,” Domer said. “All of those buildings are really just like people standing up on the edge of the sidewalk waiting to be helped or to help. I try to get the students to understand how alive these buildings are.”

Buchanan said the class has been an eye-opening experience and she wants to share her knowledge with the public to generate interest and a sense of belonging so that downtown will thrive in the future.

Pennington said she thought the students did a “phenomenal job,” which excited her even more about future tours.

“There is tremendous potential,” she said.

She’s hopeful that beginning in June, four students, including Buchanan, will begin their tours.