Urban Design Charette a Success

Photo Credit: Janet Rogers, Division of Strategic Marketing and Communications

Standing room only crowd presented concepts for downtown arts campus

To an audience of more than 350 people, five design teams shared their thoughts, concepts and processes for the first phase of the proposed Downtown Campus for the Arts for the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the future home of the Conservatory of Music and Dance.

“We need more space for our students,” said Peter Witte, dean of the UMKC Conservatory. “This Urban Design Charette process helps frame and visualize what could be available in Kansas City.”

The presentation was held on Sunday, Sept. 14 to a crowd gathered at the Greater KC Chamber Board Room in Union Station. The audience included community members; UMKC professors, administrators, students and staff; and members and supporters of the design teams.

“It’s important to UMKC to narrow the field, to determine how a firm thinks and how they interact with our students, stakeholders and donors,” said Bob Simmons, associate vice chancellor, UMKC Administration. “We have top-notch,  national and international teams working on this. I think you all would agree that we can’t go wrong with any of them.”

The five finalists are BNIM Architects with Ann Beha Architects; El Dorado Inc. with Ennead, Helix Architecture with HGA; Hoefer Wysocki Architecture with Pfeiffer Partners; and International Architects Atelier with SnØhetta.

The teams were invited to share at an Urban Design Charette as part of selection process for choosing a design team for the project. UMKC students from the Conservatory and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Architecture, Urban Planning and Design program were assigned to the teams, bringing different options and opportunities to the proposals.

While each team’s specific thoughts and concepts were varied, several common themes emerged.

Students and community members encouraged inclusion of green space – a courtyard or an occupied roof – and light and open space, as well as a connection to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Choice of the design firm could come within the next few days. Stay tuned.

A group of anonymous donors, working with the Downtown Council, assembled an 80,000-square-foot tract that can accommodate Phase I of the multi-phase project. The site covers a full city block bounded by Broadway, Central, 17th and 18th streets, directly south of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The tract is being donated contingent on a successful campaign by UMKC to raise the full $96 million estimated cost for Phase I through private gifts and State matching funds. The announcement marks the third milestone in the progress of the Downtown Campus, following the public release of detailed impact studies and the announcement months ago of a $20 million challenge grant pledge by the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation.

 

 


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