Architecture of Kansas City

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The architecture of Kansas City, Missouri and the metro area developed in an early 20th century building boom. The city is one of the ten best examples of art deco architecture in the United States.[1] Downtown Kansas City contains examples such as Bartle Hall Convention Center, the Power and Light Building.

The Power and Light Building, it is one of Kansas City's most treasured landmarks, and held the title of the tallest habitable building in Missouri for 45 years.
The Power and Light Building, it is one of Kansas City's most treasured landmarks, and held the title of the tallest habitable building in Missouri for 45 years.

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[edit] Early architecture

New York Life Building at 9th and Baltimore in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri
New York Life Building at 9th and Baltimore in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri

The first skyscraper/highrise in Kansas City was the New York Life Insurance Building (Kansas City), completed in 1888. It stands twelve floors tall at a height of 180 feet (54.8 m). After the New York Life Building was completed, Kansas City followed the national trend of constructing a plethora of buildings above ten stories. Within fifty years of the building's construction, over fifty buildings over ten floors were built in and around downtown.

[edit] Art Deco, Terra Cotta and Gothic styles

Kansas City underwent an early skyscraper boom between 1920 and 1940. During this time, notable skyscrapers such as the Power and Light Building, Oak Tower, City Hall, the Jackson County Court House, the Bryant Building, and the Fidelity National Bank building were constructed. Today, many of these buildings are being renovated for various uses, from residential lofts to office spaces. Oak Tower was once a building filled with terra cotta and gothic architecture. In an effort to modernize the then-40-year-old building in the 1970s, however, Southwestern Bell tore down and placed cladding over its gargoyles.

[edit] Modern and Post-Modern Architecture

Kansas City had a building boom in the 1970s based on TWA's plans to use the city as the world hub for its new fleet of Boeing 747's and anticipated supersonic transports.

During this period Kansas City International Airport was built to TWA's specifications so that gates were within 100 feet of the street. Hallmark Cards began construction of Crown Center. The city also built the Bartle Hall convention center. Architect Helmut Jahn's first major work was the revolutionary design for Kemper Arena which had no columns blocking sight lines and was built in 18 months in time to attract the 1976 Republican National Convention.

The optimism of this era came to a crashing end in the 1980s when the Kemper Arena roof collapsed during a storm (although no one was injured) and when skybridges at the new Hyatt Regency in Crown Center collapsed in the Hyatt Regency walkway collapse on July 17, 1981 in the worst engineering disaster in recorded history in terms of human lives. Both buildings were repaired and remain in use.

In addition to these disasters, TWA asked the city to extensively rebuild the terminals at the newly opened Kansas City International Airport so that it could have central checkpoints. The airport renovations had already come in at $100 million over budget, so the city refused. As a result, TWA moved its hub to St. Louis. In 2006, the city finally announced plans for a $250 million overhaul of the terminals to accommodate the security issues.

In the 1980s, the nation moved from the "modern" style of architecture (as inspired by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe), building large, boxy structures, to a "postmodern" style. The two most noticeable postmodern buildings in the Kansas City skyline are the Town Pavilion (built in 1986) and One Kansas City Place (1988). One Kansas City Place is a taller, glass version of City Hall. The 632-foot-tall (192.6 m) structure is the tallest habitable structure in Missouri (even taller than the Gateway Arch in St. Louis).

[edit] Original Kansas City Architecture

Kansas City's most profound influence on national architecture is the Kansas City-style of stadium that first originated with the Kivett & Myers 1967 design for the Truman Sports Complex for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. In an era when new stadiums were huge multiuse arenas, Kivett & Myers proposed baseball and football have their own arenas with dimensions most favorable to their sports and then covered with a rolling roof. Virtually all major league ballparks and stadiums since then have followed that model and most have been designed by one of two Kansas City architect firms that trace their stadium business roots to Kivett -- HOK Sport + Venue + Event and HNTB. The firms' headquarters are a few blocks apart in downtown Kansas City.

The most distinctive feature of any modern Kansas City building is its use of fountains. Kansas City calls itself the City of Fountains and has more than 200 fountains (with the claim that only Rome, Italy has more fountains). The logo for the city is a fountain. Virtually every major building showcases a fountain; probably the most famous fountains are the ones at Kauffman Stadium. Even car dealerships get into the act, sometimes showing off their SUVs on top of a fountain.

[edit] Future buildings

Since 2000, downtown Kansas City has undergone a virtual renaissance.[citation needed] During the 1950s and 1960s, as many downtown residents moved south and north to Kansas City's sprawling suburbs, downtown's population dwindled. By the 1980s, downtown Kansas City consisted mostly of office towers, with few thriving neighborhoods remaining. Today, however, major downtown redevelopment has brought back thousands of residents; with them has come a need for more buildings and more density.

In the winter of 2004, H&R Block announced the construction of its new headquarters, a 17-story tower downtown which was completed in early 2007. The tower serves as the anchor of a six-block entertainment district neighboring the Central Business District. This project hopes to bring additional entertainment, jobs and housing to downtown; the project includes five new skyscrapers. At least five to six other new skyscrapers have also been proposed for downtown.

Local architectural firms have major contracts with these and other new proposals. The two biggest (currently under construction) are the Power and Light District, designed by Cordish Company of Baltimore, Maryland, and the 18,500-seat Sprint Center arena.

On October 6, 2006, ground was broken on the future Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts a 316,000 square-foot performing arts center. It will serve the Kansas City Metropolitan Area as host to three resident companies: the Kansas City Symphony, Ballet, and Opera. It is scheduled to open December 2009.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is also building a new headquarters which will be located southwest of the Crown Center.

See Also: Downtown Kansas City, Missouri

[edit] Notable Skyscrapers

Main article: List of tallest buildings in Kansas City

Kansas City's skyline may not be as recognizable to many people in the same way as other as cities such as St. Louis, Missouri, New York City, or Chicago, Illinois, but the blending of a century of architecture has made it a heralded skyline nonetheless.

The skyscrapers of Kansas City number 50 to 60 in the Country Club Plaza as well as around 100 in the downtown area.

The Town Pavilion from the corner of 12th and Baltimore.
The Town Pavilion from the corner of 12th and Baltimore.

[edit] Historical Buildings under restoration

Along with downtown's redevelopment and revitalization, many older buildings are being restored to their former mystique. Below is a list of celebrated buildings from a variety of eras that have been or are being renovated.

[edit] Landmark Tower/One Park Place

Landmark Tower, formerly BMA Building
Landmark Tower, formerly BMA Building

This building is formerly known as the BMA (Business Men's Assurance Company) Building. It is located south of downtown at the intersection of Southwest Tfwy and 31st Street, directly across from the Fox 4 News building and towers, and on the same block as Penn Valley skatepark.

Built in 1964, Landmark Tower was originally designed by architects at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, who also designed the Plaza Center Building at 800 West 47th Street. Its structural grid, which is clad in white Georgian marble, is projected out in front of the actual building.

Landmark Tower also earned the First Honor Award in 1964 from the American Institute of Architects. It was also featured in a 1965 exhibit by New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Renovation began in 2003. The only opposition occurred when developers wanted to build additional residential facilities inside the park adjacent to the tower. The developers from One Park Place have stated that the tower will hold between 150 and 200 residential units. Gastinger Walker Harden Architects is working with the developers on the renovations, respecting the original design, which was inspired by the "International" style.

[edit] The View

"The View" is also known as the Vista Del Rio Apartments. Located at 600 Admiral Boulevard, it was originally completed in 1967. The architects of this building were John L. Daw & Associates. The Vista del Rio was the first multi-story exposed concrete structural frame building allowed by federal specifications. It was also the first federally approved high-rise to use sheetrock for internal walls. It was originally built to inspire urban renewal in the previously dilapidated area; however, after a period of misuse, the building itself fell into deep disrepair. After much of its glass had been removed, it began to be used by more "troublesome" citizens. By the 1990s, maintenance and care became so bad that graffiti appeared throughout the structure and, unfortunately, even human remains were found around the premises.

Many predicted the destruction of this neglected building, but at the beginning of current downtown redevelopment, its future became much brighter. The Vista Del Rio became the View, turning from a public nuisance to a magnet for people wishing anew to live downtown.

[edit] Fidelity Bank and Trust/909 Walnut

Main article: 909 Walnut Tower

This building is located at 909 Walnut Street (formerly 911 Walnut Street), in the north portion of downtown's Central Business District. Constructed in 1931 (at the same time as the Power and Light Building), it is 35 stories tall.

Originally built to replace the Fidelity National Bank and Trust Building that had formerly existed on that site, it was designed by Hoit, Price and Barnes Architects, the same firm that designed the Power and Light Building. It won a local American Institute of Architects award in the 1930s during its construction. The twin towers that grace its top resemble those of famous buildings around the United States, such as 900 North Michigan in Chicago (built in 1989), or the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City (built in 1931).

The building once had a large clock in its north tower which has long since been removed.

In 2003, several proposals arose to turn this building into a residential tower. As of 2006, construction continues, but for the most part, the renovation is complete. The building now houses 150-180 residential units, complete with rooftop terraces for its two multimillion-dollar penthouses.

[edit] Buildings on National Register of Historic Places

[edit] Bridges

[edit] Buildings proposed / under construction / envisioned

Name
Floors
Status
Year Estimated
Use
1034 Main* 40 Envisioned N/A Office
Convention Center Hotel* 40 Envisioned 2011 Hotel
Cordish Co. Luxury Hotel & Condominium 35 Under Construction 2009 Hotel/Residential
GSA Headquarters 28 Proposed N/A Office
2800 Grand * 26 Envisioned N/A Office
San Francisco Tower 2* 26 Proposed N/A Residential
Union Hill Village Tower 24 Envisioned N/A Residential
Promenade Place 22 Proposed N/A Office
Alameda Tower 2 21 Envisioned N/A Residential
Freight House Hotel 21 Proposed N/A Hotel
Block Realtors Tower 20 Proposed N/A Residential
P&L District Housing 2 * 18 Proposed N/A Residential
9th and Jefferson * 18 Envisioned N/A Office
Copaken Tower 18 Envisioned N/A Office
Power and Light Condos 18 Under Construction N/A Residential
P&L District Housing 3 * 18 Proposed N/A Residential
7th and Pennsylvania * 17 Envisioned N/A Office
Tesla Building 15 Proposed N/A Office
Wellington Place Tower 1 15 Proposed 2007 Residential
Wellington Place Tower 2 15 Proposed 2007 Residential
Savoy Hotel Expansion 12 Envisioned N/A Hotel
P&L District Housing 4 11 Proposed N/A Residential
American Century Expansion 13 Envisioned N/A Office
Ameristar Casino Hotel Tower II 13 Proposed N/A Hotel
2700 Grand Twr 1 13 Envisioned N/A Office
2700 Grand Twr 2 13 Envisioned N/A Office
Union Station Office Tower 12 Proposed N/A Office
Plaza West Tower II 12 Envisioned N/A Office
The Drink 10 Proposed 2008 Residential
14th and Baltimore * 10 Envisioned N/A Office
West Edge Office Tower 10 Under Construction 2007 Office
H&R Block Tower II 10 Proposed N/A Office
  • Asterisk-True heights not known, estimated from renderings

[edit] Recently completed buildings

Name
Floors
Year Completed
Use
2555 Grand 26 2003 Office
H&R Block Tower 17 2006 Office
Kirkwood Circle 13 2005 Residential
4646 Broadway 13 2007 Residential
Federal Reserve HQ 14 2007 Office
Plaza Colonnade 10 2004 Office

[edit] Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings

Frank Lloyd Wright designed three buildings currently standing in the Kansas City area.

[edit] Community Christian Church

This Frank Lloyd Wright building sits across from the Country Club Plaza's main shopping district; it is located on Main at East 46th Street. In April 1940, the church came to Frank Lloyd Wright and asked him to design a new church building for them after their last building burned down. The design also had some features from his last building for the Johnson Wax Company, along with one additional unique feature planned for it: a spire of light.

This spire of light can be seen for miles around Kansas City, and even can be spotted 30 miles or more north of the Plaza, depending on conditions. It has been calculated to stop at least 3 miles up above the earth, about half the maximum height at which jet airplanes fly. The spire of light is one of the main features of the Plaza Lighting Ceremony; people can stand on the building's roof or balconies and overlook the Plaza and the light as they are all lit in unison. Unfortunately, Frank Lloyd Wright couldn't complete the Spire of Light due to conditions in the 1940s. In the late 20th century, the Spire of Light was finally completed and it is now lit regularly, mostly on holidays, some Fridays, and during the Plaza Lighting Ceremony.

[edit] Sources

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kansas City Buildings, Real Estate, Architecture, Skyscrapers and Construction Database

[edit] External links

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