Bartle Hall Convention Center
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[edit] Overview
The Bartle Hall Convention Center (often referred to as the "Kansas City Convention Center" or simply Bartle Hall) is a major expository pavilion in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is named for Harold Roe Bartle, a prominent, two-term mayor of Kansas City in the 1950s and early 1960s. Bartle Hall's four tall art deco pylons are a highly noticeable fixture in the Kansas City skyline. The exhibition hall is just one of the city's multifaceted structures dedicated to meetings and conventions, sports and entertainment.
The interior finishes in the public access areas consist of granite flooring and stairs adjacent to Precast Concrete panels at the Main Entry with Carpet Tile in the Ballroom and Pre-functions. The Ballroom and Pre-function areas feature Metal Panels, wood panels, wood veneer and painted gyp wall surfaces as well as Fabric Wall Panels and Sculptured Glass Reinforced Gypsum (GRGF) Panels at the interior walls. The Sculptured GRGF Panels create a simulated wave pattern which ties into the water theme of the facility drawing from Kansas City’s origin at the nexus of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. The Grand Ballroom ceilings are finished out in Metal Panel’s bordered at the perimeter walls with Stretched Fabric. The Stretch Fabric ceilings are backlit by a sophisticated LED lighting system that can be programmed to rain the GRGF wall panels in color. The ceiling space also features concentric light fixtures ranging in size for 3’ to 50’ in diameter.
The nonpublic service areas for the project features over 3,000 square feet of Pantry/Kitchen space with 784 square feet of walk-in cooler and freezer space. Additionally there are 2 separate Beverage/Ice Service Rooms for catering personnel to service Ballroom functions. These service areas are sealed concrete and resinous flooring in the Kitchen areas with FRP and MDF veneer wall panels. The service area is accessed by 2 separate covered loading docks that can be accessed from the highway.
The exterior of the facility is highlighted by a 30‘high metal panel canopy over pavestone walkway at the main entry. This canopy also extends the full length of the East Elevation and is supported by Steel Columns and Fixed Blade Steel Sunshades. The Southern Elevation of the building again features a high canopy with Fixed Blade Sunshades and opens onto a Decorative Concrete Plaza designed by a local Kansas City artist. This Plaza is complimented by Architectural Precast Concrete retaining walls, concrete stairs and walkways along with decorative concrete monument light pole bases. The remainder of the site is Greenscape consisting of Sodded open area with some 50,000 Kewensis, Sedum and Vinca Minor plants along with (34) 4” caliper Japanese Pagota and Honey Locust trees.
[edit] Statistics
Bartle Hall Convention Center offers 388,800 square feet of column-free exhibit space on one floor, 211,000 square feet of tenant finishes, a 200,000 square foot conference center, another 55,000 square feet of additional space on two levels, 45 meeting rooms, a 2,400-seat fine arts theater, and an arena that can seat over 10,700 people, along with a 46,450 ballroom that was scheduled for an April 2007 opening, all connected to major downtown hotels and underground parking by glass-enclosed skywalks and below-ground walkways. A unique Convention Center feature is the expansive Barney Allis Plaza, a public square ideal for outdoor receptions, festivals and concerts.
[edit] Construction
Walton Construction provided construction services to mark the rebirth of Kansas City as one of the nation’s premier meeting and convention cities. This was an expansion project with significant technical challenges, from the new construction convention space built over a continuously open six-lane freeway (Interstate 670 runs underneath the convention center.), to the installation of four, 300-foot pylons to support the facility’s roof. The result - the largest, column-free convention environment in the world.
The building was designed and constructed to meet green building standards and achieve a LEED Silver rating. The site team included 2 LEED Accredited Professionals documenting and tracking materials, construction methods, recycling and waste management.
[edit] Highlights
An aluminum installation, “SkyStation”, tops each of the four pylons that support the building.
"Sky Station" Artist: R.M.Fisher
Project Cost: 91.7 million dollars
Pre-con and Construction Services: Completed July 1994, on schedule.
General Contractor: Walton Construction
Owner: Mr.Stan Harris, Mr. George Wolfe Jr.
Architects: HNTB Architects, BNIM Architects
Engineer: Burns & McDonnel Engineers
