Troost Avenue by Katie Darter

troost avenue AN EXPLORATION IN INCREMENTAL INFILL AS AN URBAN DESIGN STRATEGY

1 STUDIO 812 • UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE DESIGN + PLANNING • in collaboration with EL DORADO INC

what if troost avenue worked for incremental infill?

what if incremental inďŹ ll worked for troost avenue?

an exploration in incremental infill as an urban design strategy for

troost avenue STUDIO 812 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE DESIGN + PLANNING in collaboration with EL DORADO INC www.troostmanheim.com

contents

Realities, Possibilities, Fantasies on Troost Avenue

A Letter from Tanner Colby

What if Troost Avenue worked for incremental inďŹ ll?

What if incremental inďŹ ll worked for Troost Avenue?

Studio structure

Calendar

Iteration One

Iteration Two

120

Iteration Three

168

TROOST TROOST TROOST: collaborative exhibition exploring the realities, possibilities and fantasies on Troost Avenue

174

Conclusion

176

People

178

Thank-yous + credits

182

Index of projects

realities, possibilities, fantasies

REALITIES. Troost Avenue is a major transportation and mixed-use corridor. Once the most desirable commercial and residential address in Kansas City, it is the longest continuous street in town. Passionate residents and business owners vie to define the future of Troost alongside a troubled history, depressed property values, poor public schools and no guarantees. Revitalizing Troost Avenue is a complex proposition, but one that appears to be gaining momentum. What is Troost Avenue in 2010? And what role might architecture play in the revitalization effort? POSSIBILITIES. Troost Avenue possesses significant advantages – central location, good public transportation, solid infrastructure and location awareness. It is currently the beneficiary of two major infrastructure investment initiatives – the Troost Bus Rapid Transit line (Kansas City’s most significant investment into public transportation) and the Green Impact Zone of Missouri (a federal, state and local effort focused on leveraging stimulus investment into chronically under-funded Kansas City neighborhoods). Government, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, in particular, does not appear willing to turn its back completely on the future of Troost. What does the future Troost Avenue look like? Which pieces of its history, physical and cultural fabric are important to carry forward? FANTASIES. A public radio station. A branch library. A community bank. An urban Habitat ReStore. Mixed-use commercial and residential. What if 30 case studies with diverse interpretations of these programs began to appear along Troost Avenue from 39th Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard? What might the cumulative effect be?

A LETTER FROM TANNER COLBY Having researched the subject of racial integration in depth for over two years now, and studied the obstacles that remain for blacks and whites to heal the wounds that still divide America, it’s plain that our greatest obstacles are the emotional and psychological ones -- the mentality that still tells us we have reason to regard others as members of an undifferentiated group rather than each as individuals. And one of the biggest obstacles to correcting these attitudes is the problem of physical space, the separate, brick-andmortar structures we put in place under Jim Crow and still exist today. Take the black and white churches that profess the same faith yet sit on opposite sides of the street. How do you create a space that invites both groups to enter one building as equals, rather than have one group enter still feeling it must come in through the side door or sit in the back? Do you nail shut the old side door and rearrange the pews to create one, uniﬁed congregation? However you approach the problem, you cannot change the behavior until you change the physical environment that dictates how people will relate to each other inside it. Troost Avenue is just such a physical and psychological divide. Only instead of just a door and a set of benches, it is the longest north-south corridor in all of Kansas City and

still stands as a symbol of racial and economic division. And of course, every city in America has its Troost Avenue. So long as there is an “East of Troost” and “West of Troost,” the default mentality will be to consign the residents on either side to that group and not look at them as individuals. Only by reinventing the way Kansas City approaches, uses, and interacts on Troost can that divide be healed. The work done by the KU Architecture Studio is an important stake in the ground to redeﬁning this space as a place where black and white meet as equals. It offers a new aesthetic and a better infrastructure. But the hard reality is that new infrastructure is highly necessary but not nearly sufﬁcient. In the Missouri v. Jenkins school desegregation suit, $1.6 billion was spent creating new magnet schools to lure whites back across Troost, and none of them came. As important as it is for KU students to offer plans and visions for Troost, even more important is the personal decision on all their parts to go there, live there, shop there, open their own studios there, and make a personal choice to live what they propose in theory. Then, once they’re all settled in, the only thing to do is walk across the street and meet the new neighbors and say hello. And that is were the future of Troost really begins.

Tanner Colby author + researcher

what if troost avenue worked for incremental infill?

Once a center of prosperity and social life, then exploited as a racial and economic dividing line, Troost Avenue in Kansas City now exhibits the deteriorating buildings, faltering businesses and struggling communities typical of many neglected urban commercial corridors. As a long-term, bottom-up development strategy, the incremental infill of vacancies along Troost Avenue with thoughtfully-designed building projects holds promise for tapping the rich social and economic potential of this core urban area. This fifth-year architecture design studio explored how five building types – bank branch, library branch, mixeduse development, radio station and Habitat for Humanity ReStore – could successfully engage the Troost Avenue community beneficially as modest infill projects part of such a broader strategy.

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BLAME THE POOR?







“SORRY, BUT COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD YOU WEREN’T NEAR YOU APPROVED”



SEPARATE BUT EQUAL?

1 Two widely read analyses of Kansas City housing were published by the Board of Public Welfare, Report on Housing (1912), and Social Prospectus of Kansas City (1913). Typical of studies during this period was the tendency to blame the victims of poverty, without thought for the systemic or institutional factors involved. Such studies, emboldened by the social darwinism of the era, was one of the factors that spread the idea of racializing urban space and using Troost as a dividing line. 2 Of the instruments used by the dominant class of European Americans in Kansas City, none was as effective in promoting residential segregation as ‘restrictive covenants’. A contract entered into between property owners and neighborhood associations, the covenant stipulated that the sale, lease, or rental of a property could only be offered to whites. Making extensive use of racially restrictive covenants, the J.C. Nichols Company assured that these would be enforced by homeowners associations. The members agreed to bind themselves and future owners from selling or renting to African Americans. Empowered by legal restrictive covenants, these associations became the ‘racial gatekeeper’. 3 Real estate blockbusting became a catalyst for neighborhood transition. Blockbusting is defined as real estate agents who spread word through a white neighborhood of an impending black influx, to frighten whites into selling their homes cheaply. These homes were subsequently sold to blacks at inflated prices. In the process, all-white areas were transformed quickly into all-black areas. Blockbusting could be phrased in such a way that it sounded very nice. “I’m glad you want to stay in the neighborhood; so few white people do”. But that was enough to trigger the move response. In Kansas City, Missouri this process most clearly happened in the southeast section. Between 1950 and 1970, in an area bounded by 12th Street on the north, Gregory Boulevard (71st Street) on the south, Cleveland Avenue on the east, and Troost Avenue on the west, there was a dramatic population shift. White residents fell from 126,229 to 33,804. The white presence fell from 74.7% of the population to 24.6%. During that same period, black residents increased from 41,348 to 102,741. In terms of percentage, it was nearly an exact reversal. The black presence increased from 24.4% to 74.6%. 4 When banks and other lending institutions refuse to lend to an area of minority concentration, we have ‘redlining’. The effect on Kansas City and the area east of the Troost corridor has been described as: “Once the racial transition of the southeast section of the city was complete, private lending agencies ceased making home mortgage money available to residents living east of Troost Avenue, thereby redlining entire neighborhoods and launching a vicious wave of disinvestment and physical deterioration that continues to this day.” 5 The policy of segregation was not only a disinvestment of economic capital. From 1950 on there was a deliberate attempt to limit the development of social capital as well. The Kansas City, Missouri School District (KCMSD) school board sought to keep segregated schools by ‘using Troost Avenue as a racially identifiable school attendance boundary from 1955 through 1975, separating White schools to the west and Black schools to the east’. Indeed, the Troost boundary, created by the school district, was utilized by the realtors and the lenders to provoke White flight. This was in direct reaction to the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision. Instead of calling it a ‘racial attendance zone’, they now would call it a ‘neighborhood attendance zone’. But the effect was the same. The schools remained segregated.

PERSONS PER ACRE

0% - 20%

0 - 2.500

21% - 40%

2.501 - 5.000

41% - 60%

5.001 - 7.500

61% - 80%

7.501 - 10.000

81% - 100%

10.001 +

TROOST AVENUE

NON-CAUCASIAN POPULATION

JOBS PER ACRE 0 .0 - 1.5 1.6 - 2.5 2.6 - 5.0 5.1 - 15.0

TROOST AVENUE

15.1 +

TROOST AVENUE

31st Street and Troost Avenue looking South (1929)

31st Street and Troost Avenue looking South (2010)

47th Street and Troost Avenue looking East (1929)

47th Street and Troost Avenue looking East (2010)

what if incremental infill worked for troost avenue? • BRANCH BANK • BRANCH LIBRARY • MIXED -USE • RADIO STATION • RESTORE

The studio explored a strategy of incremental infill as a solution for the commercial revitalization of Kansas City. The Troost Avenue Corridor is one urban area of Kansas City that has seen better times. Improvements have been initiated at various locations along Troost Avenue, but the majority of development has been in areas outside the 39th Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard stretch, a section that needs urgent help to reestablish its identity. Once an eclectic and active main thoroughfare for Kansas City, Troost Avenue is now littered with abandoned buildings and vacant lots that tarnish the community’s historic past. Incremental infill is a bottom-up strategy, pursued with the understanding that large-scale attempts to quickly reform troubled urban areas such as the Troost Ave Corridor often fail. As a bottom-up strategy, incremental infill relies on the cumulative effect of individual buildings impacting their localized areas. The modest scale of such individual infill projects makes this strategy a real economic possibility, and placing thoughtfully-designed buildings in the midst of the existing conditions along Troost Ave shows a willing attitude to work with local residents and history. One well-designed building may not have a revolutionary impact on its own, but as more and more are introduced, the step-by-step transformation of the built landscape proves that a dilapidated commercial corridor can be revitalized without requiring large-scale demolition and new construction.

The studio designed incremental infill projects of five different building types: bank branch, library branch, mixed-use development, radio station and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. These project types were chosen for their modest scale and economic cost, potential to engage the local community in varied ways, and ability to provide beneficial services currently lacking in the area. The thirty designs produced by the studio demonstrate how filling vacant lots and restoring abandoned structures with these buildings types can spur economic and social development in the Troost Ave Corridor, an area of Kansas City which has shown potential in the past to impact the whole city in a positive manner.

group study rooms

study rooms private study rooms classrooms book sorting area

staff & support

manager’s office break room storage loading dock books cds dvds

stacks other media storage

computers

main reading room

reading spaces children area teen area

periodicals reading station

community public meeting space room library programs

circulation and reference desk

entry

self-checkout copy center

CASE STUDY: Hyde Park Miriam Matthews Library Los Angeles, CA Hodgetts + Fung This south LA library established a strong street presence and warm character while maintaining security in an innercity setting. Relatively large children’s and teens’ areas respond to neighborhood needs. The interior experience is rich with dynamic lines overhead, layered materials and controlled daylighting, all united by an earthy palette.

BRANCH LIBRARY Uniquely free access to books as well as computers, DVDs and other media at libraries comes with an inherent risk of theft. Yet, librarians are shifting focus from the front desk to mobile interaction with patrons. How can the librarianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role offering personal help to patrons be supported while visual security over library materials is maintained? Beyond traditional reading spaces, libraries now provide a wealth of events for children, community meeting rooms, free classes and group study spaces. How can the library serve as a welcoming community gathering space while protecting quiet reading areas? Libraries signify value for education, open access, and civic investment in the community. While departing from the outdated style of Carnegie-era public libraries, these buildings must still manifest a proud presence. How can the library assert a strong presence and clear identity to passersby and arriving patrons, whether by car, bus, bicycle or foot?

RADIO STATION Public radio stations communicate ideas, news and entertainment to their listeners primarily through sound. While the broadcast itself cultivates a distinct character appropriate to its audience and region, the appearance and location of a radio stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building is unfamiliar to most listeners. How can the radio stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on-air character be communicated in its building, to establish a recognizable street presence? Though listeners call radio stations on a daily basis to interact with the broadcasters, and stations occasionally organize events at local establishments, radio station buildings rarely receive public visitors. How can a radio station building indicate open public access and provide space for community programs? Radio station employees include staff for sales, marketing, news reporting, accounting and engineering, and most of the building is dedicated to their work spaces. How can the organization of work areas support convenient inter-departmental collaboration?

engineering rack room

support

mechanical storage

session weather on-air s t u d i o s news music production

general manager

private offices program director sales manager news director accountant controller

meeting rooms

conferences breakroom

sales marketing promotion

openreporters offices

lobby informal meeting spaces

open space waiting area front desk

CASE STUDY: WYEP Radio Center Pittsburgh, PA FortyEighty/dggp The WYEP public radio building is located in the transitional area of Pittsburgh’s South Side. It includes a large performance/recording studio, on-air studios, and production rooms, along with staff ofﬁces and support spaces for up to 28 full- and part-time employees and interns. The architects custom designed acoustic isolation and room acoustic control for each of the radio station’s studios.

studio gallery restaurant retail

commercial hotel small business

break room landlord owner

offices

conference room break room elevator stairwell

lobby

reception circulation mechanical loading dock

support storage parking

apartments suites lofts

residential

bedrooms dining kitchen living

CASE STUDY: Bergamot Lofts Santa Monica, CA Pugh + Scarpa Architects

Located in a former industrial area turned artist district, Bergamot Lofts houses four artist lofts, each with a private living area overlooking a large live/work space that can also serve as a gallery. The exterior is covered in corrugated metal, steel and glass that echo the surrounding context, but those are shaped into a form distinct from the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neighbors. The lofts establish a clear, single identity appropriate to the surroundings.

MIXED USE Many potential combinations of activities are included under the category of mixed-use buildings, including shops, residences, public services and restaurants. While the shared presence of varied activities can generate interest, different tenants also require degrees of separation. How are the differing security needs of all tenants satisďŹ ed? Conversely, different tenants also require different forms of access to accomodate groups or individuals entering and exiting their areas of the building at all hours of day and night. How can convenient and safe access to each tenant be provided for staff, customers and visitors? To the sidewalk and the street, a mixed-use building must also communicate the presence of each tenant in a coordinated manner. How are issues of image and identity for each tenant as well as the whole building resolved?

BRANCH BANK Positive interaction with the community is crucial to a bank’s success because money ﬂow depends on trust. Banks have a vested interest in supporting area revitalization, starting with creating an enjoyable and secure experience for their own customers. How can a bank design convey a sense of security and a relaxing atmosphere? Upon arrival, customers expect to quickly comprehend where various services are provided, and that routine in-person and drive-through transactions will be conveniently arranged. How can clear entryexit paths and lines-of-sight be provided for customers arriving by foot and car? Tellers, loan ofﬁcers and the bank manager need work areas with close and private access for consulting with one another. How is effective, back-of-house staff circulation organized?

ATM deposits teller convenience street access

drive-through two lanes

deposits withdrawls balance

tellers

inquiries exchanges

vault

secure area security room

receptionist

loan officers bank manager

information area

break room conference room

lobby

offices

entrance

CASE STUDY: Missouri Bank Crossroads Branch 2008 Kansas City, MO Helix Architects + Design In a rundown auto shop in this inner-city district of Kansas City, the Missouri Bank built its Crossroads branch emphasizing community interaction and openness. Customer service happens in a unique space, lit by skylight and windows to the street, unobstructed by interior partitions. The renovation also achieved a LEED Gold rating using reclaimed materials. 35

showroom furniture appliances tools paint doors windows wallpaper decorations

forklift pallets pricing moving reception

entry check-out

classrooms

offices break room

sorting inventory

loading docks pick-up

receiving independent donation

CASE STUDY: ReBuilding Center Portland, OR Orange Design Inc Built to ﬁt the surrounding context of residences and small businesses, the ReBuilding Center uses salvaged materials to create an inviting façade that matches the heights of its neighbors. RBC strives to educate, offering classes and seminars on using re-found materials in art and building, helping members of the community ﬁnd green jobs, and holding events to unify the community. 36

ReSTORE A depot for donating and purchasing used appliances, building materials and home decor, ReStore depends on motivating individual involvement. How can the showroom pique the interest of people walking or driving by? Customers entering a ReStore are confronted by a vast, open warehouse space with hundreds of items for sale from dozens of categories. How can the warehouse space be organized for immediate comprehension and easy navigation by customers? The wealth of items for sale at a ReStore come in a great variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Yet, the staff must move every item from the donation drop-off to its place in the showroom, and then ultimately from the showroom to customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vehicles. How are easily navigable routes for transporting even bulky items from the drop-off to all areas of the showroom and out to customers created?

STUDIO STRUCTURE As instructors, Josh Shelton and David Dowell of el dorado inc resolved to prepare the fifthyear students for professional architectural practice by creating a studio environment resembling the working demands of the field. An essential skill for the professional architect, multi-tasking was introduced by overlapping the six-week design iterations so that students worked simultaneously on two different projects throughout the semester. Rigorous and continual development of initial design concepts, risk-taking to move design in innovative directions, and personal accountability and work efficiency in the context of multi-tasking were all encouraged and developed. Desk critiques, weekly progress reviews and formal end-ofiteration reviews with design professionals and members of the public allowed students to develop oral and visual presentation skills, learning to communicate design approach and concepts to a variety of audiences. The three design iterations allowed each student to work on three different building designs of various program types to contribute to the discussion of how incremental infill may work along Troost Avenue. By the end of the semester, thirty projects had been produced that explore how incremental infill as an urban revitalization strategy may be implemented with positive results in the Troost Avenue Corridor.

STUDIO SCHEDULE January 22: lecture: Peter Gluck of Peter Gluck and Partners January 29-February 5: preliminary site and context research February 5: lecture: Derek Porter of Derek Porter Studio February 5: iteration 1 begins February 12: iteration 1 pecha kucha February 19: iteration 1 mid-review February 19: iteration 2 begins February 26: iteration 2 pecha kucha February 26: lecture: Chris Theis of the Carbon Neutral Design Project March 12: iteration 1 final review March 22: iteration 3 begins March 26: iteration 3 pecha kucha April 2: iteration 2 mid-review April 2: lecture: Liz Ogbu of Public Architecture April 9: iteration 2 final review April 21: lecture: Hashim Sarkis April 21: iteration 3 mid-review April 29: lecture: Christof Jantzen of Behnisch Architects May 7: iteration 3 final review May 16: KU School of Architecture graduation May 21: TROOST TROOST TROOST exhibition at the Charlotte Street Foundation

iteration one 39th St to 42nd St on Troost Ave

This design iteration concentrated on the three blocks of Troost Avenue from 39th Street to 42nd Street. Design issues introduced include relating new construction to existing buildings, developing speciﬁc building uses appropriate to the area, communicating visually to passersby and creating environments both welcoming and secure. Individual projects for this area include three banks, three libraries, three mixeduse developments, two radio stations and a ReStore.

INFLUENCES: • Fashion Architecture Taste (FAT) • Michael Vahrenwald • Mutual Musicians Foundation 45

TROOST COMMUNITY LIBRARY 4009 troost branch library brandon lewis

Analysis of the 3900 – 4100 blocks of Troost Ave shows that this particular area of the commercial corridor is surrounded by many residences on the east and west sides. Manheim Park on the east side and Hyde Park on the west side experience a deep disconnect, with no significant public institutions on Troost Ave for these neighborhoods to share. The Troost Community Library serves as common space for these nearby residents and others from around Kansas City. This building can particularly help children, teenagers, and other students in the area by providing a safe public structure for them to utilize while parents are at work. The main space contains book stacks and a computer center, and other areas contain specific types of reading material. Private reading nooks in the front facade open up inside into a communal reading space separated from high-traffic areas by a line of stacks. Other amenities include classrooms and study spaces on the upper level, as well as an outdoor terrace on the west side of the roof.

TROOST ReSTORE 4141 troost habitat for humanity restore britt beushausen

Taking the existing condition of this corner site as a challenge, a Habitat for Humanity ReStore was designed – a choice which plays off of the existing building’s seemingly “hodge-podge” appearance. The idea behind the design for this particular ReStore was to create a physical diptych between the new addition and the vacant building, an anomaly which fails to ﬁt any architectural category or “-ism.” A diptych with this building was created by picking up on key existing elements in the standing building and manipulating them to form a new construction. Beginning with the conventional gable roof found on the back of the existing building, the form is repeated, stretching and pulling it to make a new roof line for the ReStore. The two building sections next to each other provide not just a language of old and new, but the new serves also to ground the old and give it more of a stylistic personality.

BOIS LE DUC LIBRARY 3990 troost branch library chad cover The Bois Le Duc library branch, located at a corner site in a currently dilapidated mixeduse building, will encourage a sense of unity and social gathering. Within the past few decades, Troost has undeniably been a place of social-political degradation. Given the corner relationship of the new library along E 40th St, the program works to establish a linear connection between the east and west sides of Troost Ave, speciďŹ cally Manheim Green to the east and Hyde Park to the west. The Bois Le Duc Library utilizes material iconography as a marketing tool, in order to stitch together the east and west neighborhoods. This is accomplished by positioning elements of the facade at two remote locations, Manheim Green and Hyde Park.

BLUES + RADIO 3901 troost radio station mark scherrer This project was a discovery of the past of Troost Ave. The corridor was once a hub of Kansas City’s music scene with several local districts, as well as playing a major role in entertainment and nightlife. Early research led to the conclusion that Troost Ave, with no sign of blues or jazz in over eighty years, needs to revive its music scene. The project consists of a radio station dedicated to blues, sitting at a very active intersection. The radio station’s lively facade, with a rhythmic progression of varying transparencies of channel glass, resembles the nature of the program inside. The radio station nestles up to Dean’s Food Mart, a staple of the corridor. Behind the food mart sits a ‘back-of-house’ blues club which incorporates an entrance through the shop. The radio station airs live blues music, restoring the city’s music history along Troost Ave that has since declined.

TROOST AVE

40TH ST

TROOST BANK + DASH DOGS 4000 troost branch bank katie darter A lack of reliable financial institutions along the Troost Ave corridor causes an already blighted and troubled community to turn to payday loan shops. To make a bank for this area more approachable to the community, a fast food vendor is integrated into the bank’s program. Dash Dogs, the chosen vendor, faces Troost Ave at ground level, further activating the corner and making use of the drive-through located on the south facade of the building. The existing building at the site is preserved and integrated into the new building. A white brick wall wraps the new building and slides behind the old red brick facade, creating new spaces and interesting opportunities for lighting. Materiality and lighting are important in defining spaces on the ground level. Lighting and the ceiling plane guide customers toward the tellers upon entering the bank. The second level serves the bank staff and is designed for flexibility. Rather than an unapproachable institution, the Troost Bank presents itself as a neighborhood bank for the community through modest architecture and the re-use of an existing building.

64 64

65 65

TROOST RADIO 4007 troost branch bank brandon froelich Radio stations are unique as one of the few businesses which can openly engage the public without requiring users to open their wallets – important if the building is to become a staple of success in a struggling neighborhood. This radio station is designed to be as publicly accessible as possible. The four storefront windows maintain the language of the current building on the site and two large bays on the second level can completely open to the street. The ground level houses the radio program and an open ofﬁce station with an emphasis on interior lighting. The second level consists of the “live room” which can open to Troost Ave and an outdoor space to let the sights and sounds of live music activate the street. Placing the tower directly atop the building was a way to embrace the oddities on Troost Ave and respond to the 120 ft power lines KCP&L recently installed along the corridor. In addition to creating a landmark for the radio station, the tower frames a unique outdoor experience for events and live music.

TROOST LIVE + EAT 3940 troost ave mixed use chris webster

This mixed-use building is located amongst a highly populated residential area and less than a block away from the active transportation hub at 39th St and Troost Ave. Thus the site is easily accessible and could be sustained by the immediate and surrounding population. A new structure on the vacant lot and a rehabilitation of the ground level of the existing corner building are proposed. The new structure houses a cafe/restaurant on the ground level with two stories of apartments above. There are four single-bedroom and two double-bedroom residences capable of accommodating a variety of occupants. The new structure incorporates modern space planning and detailing without aesthetically attacking the existing built environment of Troost Ave. Within the ground level of the corner building would be a new community grocery store. This prominent position at the intersection allows the grocery store to be easily viewed and approached, continuing the tradition of corner markets.

TROOST BANK 4000 troost ave branch bank jeff hayes

Analyzing the fabric of the Troost Ave corridor, it became apparent that there are no banks but plenty of cash advance shops in the area. The presence of a bank would bring more stability to the neighborhood and entice a stronger sense of community. A small, abandoned brick building currently occupies the corner site chosen. Developing a new bank around the existing building demonstrates the possibilities of strengthening the community rather than ignoring the existing condition. A skylight separates the addition from the existing structure. Clients enter the bank on either end of a long corridor that allows immediate visual access to the tellers and a clear understanding of where they need to go. Loan ofďŹ cers are located on the ďŹ rst level in the formerly vacant structure, where they are visually connected to the tellers and additional staff areas. The branch manager and assistants are located on the second level, from which they can constantly see all the activities of the bank and serve as an additional focal point for bank patrons.

TROOST FLEX SPACE 4111 troost ave mixed use lane brown The existing building is an example of a typical dilapidated, vacant structure that once contributed to a thriving community, sitting at a crossroads between the residential neighborhood to the east and the commercial district to the south. A mixed-use building intended for a live/work space is a simple rehabilitation solution that can be applied and replicated in other blighted areas as well. The design focuses on a flexible ground level for light industrial use with a residential component added to the second level. The open floor space is set up in anticipation of a gallery, studio, fabrication shop, or retail store inhabiting it. Large, bi-fold doors allow the flex space to open up to both Troost Ave and the parking lot behind the building so that large works can be carried in or out and then transported with relative ease. The brick structure of the existing building is contrasted with the weathered Corten steel panels cladding the residential module. Windows are screened by perforated, bi-fold metal panels in order to filter unwanted sunlight and views inside.

TROOST MANAGEMENT 3949 troost ave mixed use meghan flicek The building at this corner site is noticeably vacant, boarded-up and forgotten about, but it cannot be ignored. The building stands out amongst a predominantly residential block because of its peculiar shape and large form. The building appears to once have been a supplemental unit to the occupied apartment complex directly adjacent to it, judging by the similar ornament brickwork. This began an inquiry: Who owns Troost Ave? Many of the lots along Troost Ave are owned by property management companies, and these two lots in particular are owned by two different companies. A mixed-use program is proposed, designing the street level to function as the new office for the management company owning the property. Using the existing balcony apertures to introduce new structural bearing walls, a fourth level is added. The lightweight, glass curtainwall system on the new floor contrasts the heavy adorned brick of the existing building. Drawing influence from work by the German architectural firm Sauerbruch and Hutton, the building’s circular form displays a shifting color palette.

TROOST LIBRARY 4019 troost branch library stefan novosel The many residences on Troost Ave in this area, as well as the neighborhoods lying west and east of the corridor, inﬂuenced the choice of building program. A library on this vacant lot will create a community gathering place easily reachable by those residents. A computer area, a teens’ area and a children’s area – both with their own computers – respond to residents’ needs. A large community room with after-hours access is elevated over the sidewalk to shelter a front plaza and mark the entry. “TROOST” is etched into the long windows of the community room, as a sign visible along Troost Ave northward and southward. Stairs to the community center also access the landscaped roof with its informal amphitheater, light monitors and a walled stage for stargazing. A storytelling tower for children also has access to the roof. Full-height glass panels provide light and views for the ground level and establish a rhythm in the facade. Large, differently colored ceiling panels contain artiﬁcial lighting while providing visual paths to various areas of activity.

BANKING OUTLET 4437 troost branch bank algonquin tolbert Troost Ave provides very little to no accessibility to bank branches. A branch bank is proposed as an urban infill approach that could stabilize the community by increasing local spending, encouraging financial investment and acting as an anchor for businesses in the area through design. Additional workshop space is included in the program, and the building footprint is divided into two sections to serve public and private uses. The extended roof close to the street represents public space and proposes compelling circular openings to allow for natural lighting along the space. The private segment of the bank offers an eastfacing clerestory to divide space and allow light into the back. The floating glass system was designed to show moments of clearness and messiness inside the bank. Along the landscape, the turning radius of a car was the influence behind the vegetation and parking strategies.

ITERATION ONE CRITIQUE March 12, 2010 at the Kansas City Design Center

critics: • David Dowell • Richard Farnan • Vladimir Krstic • Dan Maginn • Hesse McGraw • Josh Shelton • Jake Wagner

iteration two 42nd St to 45th St on Troost Ave

This design iteration concentrated on the three blocks of Troost Avenue from 42nd Street to 45th Street. The imminent construction of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system along Troost Avenue served as a key design consideration, along with an ongoing discussion of how to restore abandoned buildings with new activities that will be successful. Partner projects for this area include a library, three mixed-use developments, a radio station and a ReStore.

INFLUENCES: • Dana Sperry • Kansas City MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) • Gordon Matta Clark

TEEN ARTS CENTER 4200 troost ave mixed use britt beushausen + brandon lewis Examining the demographics for the Troost Ave area revealed that the largest population segment is the range of teenagers aged fifteen to nineteen years. A hybrid teen arts center and artists’ residence caters to this age group. The building combines uses as an art center, a counseling center, a place for teens to work on job skills, and most importantly, a place for teens to grow more secure and confident in their identity. The center also houses four resident artists who, in exchange for housing, are asked to teach the teens different art techniques, inspire creativ¬ity, and work as leaders within the complex. The building itself is centralized around an atrium which frames a grand staircase. This stair serves not only as a method of circu¬lation, but also as a procession through different key spaces. The user is required to step off of one flight and walk through an art studio before continuing up the next flight of stairs; this forced interac¬tion is designed to create dialogue between different studios, teens, and artists.

TROOST COMMUNITY CENTER 4242 troost ave branch library/community center katie darter + brandon froelich Libraries serve as symbols of stability and activity, which can instill a sense of community pride and serve to catalyze incremental improvements in the area. For a library to work, the community aspect of the program must be speciﬁc to the needs of Troost Ave. A place to read, access the Internet, work on homework, meet with a tutor, grab a coffee and people watch are all reasons to visit a library...but how can this library become a part of the daily lives of the people on Troost Ave and the broader network of Kansas City? The Marching Cobras are Kansas City’s premiere drum line. Loud and colorful, explosive and exciting, the Cobras are made up of motivated and skilled individuals ages 8-18. Recently they became in need of a new permanent home. The gymnasium not only provides Troost Ave with much-needed indoor space for athletic activities but will also serve as the Cobras’ new home. Informal seating and high visibility allow for the positive and high-energy activities of the gym to resonate through the building out onto the street.

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TROOST TREASURES 4230 troost ave habitat for humanity restore chad cover + meghan flicek The activity on Troost Ave and the circulation of BRT passengers create changing vantage points for this ReStore building. In consequence, the display of objects within the store became the focus of design. Influenced by the cinematography of Dana Sperry which captures and merges different perspectives of a moment, the storefront utilizes a lenticular window system with polished aluminum bracing to capture and display the street activity. The storefront allows the audience to view the restored items for sale inside while simultaneously reflecting Troost Ave. People, cars, buses, and everyday life will animate onto the lenticular pattern of the window. To compensate for the expense of this display system, the building uses prefabricated structural and skin systems. The warehouselike building is set up to provide open floor space and shelf space for presenting objects, as well as second-level storage for overstock. The plan is driven by navigation and exhibition of the objects, and the design of the building is accommodated to its surroundings through use of height and ornament in harmony with the adjacent neo-gothic building.

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TROOST FLOWERS 4300 troost ave mixed-use stefan novosel + mark scherrer The chosen site is the future location of a BRT stop and the current location of a vacant house surrounded by parking lots and owned by the adjacent funeral chapel. The presence of the funeral chapel led to a live/work renovation proposal for a floral shop on ground level and a residence above. This project became a discovery of how to free the house from its heavy, enclosed character, creating a new, cohesive experience which connects inside to outside while still honoring the history in the existing house. The south facade on the ground level is replaced by glass panels and flower beds, while a vegetated trellis screens the view to the funeral chapel. The floor of the second level is opened to allow double-story height above the flower shop and an overlook for residence. Dormer windows on the third level are now light-wells serving all three levels. The experience of the flower shop extends outside through a landscaped deck which approaches the landscaping for the future BRT stop, creating a garden area out of the former corner parking lot.

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BUS RADIO TRANSIT 4305 troost radio station jeff hayes + algonquin tolbert The proposal connects an existing commercial building with an existing house. The connection occurs by using the influence of the BRT system in Kansas City as a principle for convenience and creating a lively transit experience. The program consists of thinking of a radio station alongside a cafe in new ways through acoustical and visual connections. The role of the radio station is to bring a visual aspect open to everyone to a normally auditory experience. The radio station and the cafe are connected with an enjoyable outdoor space that allows people to sit and relax to music while eating. The outdoor space allows people relief from the constant hustle of the Troost Ave corridor. To create a welcoming atmosphere for BRT passengers, the outdoor radio studio provides a flexible covered seating area connected to the exterior seating of the cafe. Planter boxes create a barrier for the space from the heavy traffic of Troost Ave, and the use of glass in the cafe and radio station opens up the spaces for visitors to come and interact.

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RADIO TROOST 4210 troost ave radio station lane brown + chris webster

The 4200 block of the Troost Ave corridor is underdeveloped and attracts few people. A new radio station is proposed within a mass of vacant structures to re-stimulate the area and revitalize the deteriorating building stock. A radio station’s initial success is not dependent on the public’s physical interaction. However, to actively engage the immediate community, additional programmatic aspects such as a record store, a small lounge and a space for live performances, address the ongoing problem of a lack of things to do along Troost Ave. Inside the radio station, a harmonious relationship between old and new construction exists, the new inﬁll woven in and around the existing condition. Investigation of spatial depths and dimensions allows the varied programmatic aspects to collage and overlap one another, creating rich interior spaces. To engage the public social realm of Troost Ave, the main DJ booth extends over the sidewalk, placing them on the street while framing the main entrance below. The record store/performance space features large sliding doors allowing the space to spill out into the street when desired.

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ITERATION TWO CRITIQUE April 9th, 2010 at el dorado inc

critics: • Shannon Criss • David Dowell • Nils Gore • Luke Jordan • Henry Klein • Liz Ogbu • Josh Shelton • Jim Woodﬁll

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iteration three 45th St to Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd on Troost Ave

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This design iteration concentrated on the two blocks of Troost Avenue from 45th Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. Critical thinking focused on developing design concepts with potential for broader implementation throughout the area and evaluating if existing structures are worth restoring or not. Individual projects for this area include six libraries, a mixed-use development, two radio stations, a ReStore, horse stables and a widely-applicable inﬁll design scheme.

INFLUENCES: • Spike Lee • Alvaro Siza • Hashim Sarkis 121

GILLHAM STABLES 4600 block between harrison and campbell outdoor recreation area mark scherrer

This project was a process of discovery which included several site selections and continuous modifications to program. Originally, the project proposed a recreation center at Brush Creek Blvd and Troost Ave to house basketball courts, fitness stations, and a new home for Kansas City’s Roller Derby League. Upon discovering that the building currently houses horses and carriages for the Country Club Plaza, stables and riding arenas were added to the program, creating a need for space for the horses. Eventually, the full block from Brush Creek Blvd southward to Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd, Campbell St eastward to Harrison St, was chosen as the final site. The project aims at extending Gillham Park southward and providing a new home for the horses which connects to both Troost Ave and the Plaza via Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. The park features vast green space, dynamic topography, and interesting edges that open up to dense housing. The architecture responds to these features and offers a program that restores the history of Gillham Park’s relationship to horses.

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TROOST LIBRARY 4600 troost branch library stefan novosel

A dilapidated tower here is the only reminder of a movie theater formerly on the site; its form suggests dignity and monumentality, but its poor condition and uncanny loneliness testiďŹ es to the neglect the Troost Ave corridor has suffered. Rather than romanticize or restore this disturbing relic, the design proposes a truly monumental replacement to convey dignity to the area. The site is uniquely situated to locate a large branch library drawing residents from Manheim Park to the east and Hyde Park to the west, users of Gillham Park to the northwest, and passersby on Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd to the south. The building forms exterior spaces that visually connect to key interior spaces, particularly between the ground-level plaza, auditorium and library entry. Inside the library, a large central hall allows users to see others and be seen, while shelving deďŹ nes semi-private space for individuals and small groups. Thus the community is provided with a variety of private study spaces and large social spaces unlike anything currently existing in this area along Troost Ave.

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SUNKEN LIBRARY 4600 troost branch library meghan ďŹ&#x201A;icek

The site, at the corner of Brush Creek Blvd and Troost Ave, hold the remnants of an old theater. The building was torn down, but a tower piece was left behind as an awkward remembrance of the public space. Using the program of a library and the lure and identity of the tower, the site has potential to become a strong community gathering space once again. The new Troost Library is supported by a sunken, terraced plaza that shelters from street activity, provides seating for reading and gathering, and allows for underground programming. The existing tower marks the stairwell to the plaza and entry to the lowest level. The new building is pulled back to deďŹ ne the plaza and create a backdrop for the tower and site. The interactive program of the outdoor space balances the serene program of the library. A childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s library and internet cafe bound the space, and are separated from the plaza by a level change. A translucent plane extends from the sunken plaza creating a projection surface, an illumination source, or a performance stage.

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TROOST GROWERS MARKET + WOMEN’S SHELTER 4600 troost mixed-use katie darter Low-income, urban populations often suffer from unhealthy diets due to limited access to affordable produce. A wide area around Troost Ave between 39th St and Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd is a food “desert” in this respect, although home to countless fast food chains. This urban population also suffers from high homeless rates. How could a public building address these two problems? A growers’ market cultivates healthy food for the community and empowers individuals through training and workshops. The women’s shelter is a safe place for homeless women and their children to get back on their feet, learning entrepreneurial skills through running the growers’ market. An existing tower on the southeast corner of the site will be preserved to serve as an entry to the community gardens, with the indoor market area sitting northeast near the intersection of Brush Creek Blvd and Troost Ave. The shelter’s rooms gain privacy by facing westward toward neighboring houses, while the public community spaces face the streets. Circulation through the shelter gives access to the gardens while also providing for outdoor spaces.

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TROOST PARK LIBRARY 4600 troost branch library jeff hayes

The library provides a peaceful place for people and families to interact on Troost Ave by connecting Gillham Park to the street – this was an important factor in choosing the site. The location also allows library users to keep a watchful eye on the area, deterring crime. Important to the design of the library is its relationship to the strongly horizontal proﬁle of the surrounding blocks. The library breaks out of this mold by extending vertically to four levels. Already present on the site is a tower which is the only remaining semblance of a torn-down theater. The existing tower now provides a focal point and means of access to the entry. The design revolves around two long wings: one rises up and connects visually to Gillham Park to the west, the other lies adjacent to Troost Ave. The intertwining and overlapping of the wings shapes the entry and a second-level roof park adjacent to the street. The privacy needed for a teens’ reading area and a separate children’s area is provided while infusing the spaces with ample computer access.

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COMING INTO EXISTENCE 4603 troost radio station + youth performance center algonquin tolbert There are currently two detached semitrailers on the site; grafďŹ ti art and corrosion suggest a presence here long enough for people to identify them with the site. This project proposes incorporating these trailers into design as a means of storage for the site. On a broad level, the strategy is to work with the negative spaces around the trailers for formal and programmatic approaches. The building program includes a radio station, small theater, gallery and production space. Given the different programs, the interstitial spaces are essential to the effectiveness of the overall design in attracting and interesting visitors. The site is open to west winds which orchestrate pathways and provide natural ventilation. The production space requires low light and acousticallysealed spaces, leading to the choice of concrete as primary material for the entire development â&#x20AC;&#x201C; interrupted by signiďŹ cant window openings where needed. The gallery can also function as a performance space, depending on the desired usage and current weather conditions.

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TROOST LIBRARY 4600 troost branch library chris webster Although the physical characteristics of libraries are changing, their nature and intent remain the same. Libraries are institutions that welcome and aid the general public in the access of information. This library design establishes a series of transparent spaces, placing the program and internal activity on display. Along with intimate proximity to the existing tower, this serves to attract the public to the site. The site is divided into a frontand back-yard creating a variety of social spaces. Public social space is created along Troost Ave and Brush Creek Blvd through a combination of steps and planters, raising the main level of the library above the ground. The main level houses a room for community meetings, classes or exhibitions that is separated from the main library and can be operated independently. The rest of the level provides plentiful public access to computers and the Internet. The second level is reserved for books and other publications, a variety of reading and work spaces and an exterior roof deck framing a view of the tower.

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MIXED USE PROTOTYPE 4451 troost, 4501 troost, 4623 troost mixed use development strategy chad cover

The mixed-use prototype began with an investigation in vacant lots which extend from Troost Ave eastward to Forest Ave. The three sites selected have an existing curb-cut for vehicle access off of Troost Ave, and connect the parallel streets with at least two vacant lots. The building prototype establishes a bridging connection for car and pedestrian use between the two streets. Work areas and retail space are located on the street level. Each tenant-owner has a residence located above their workspace.

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READING TUBE 4600 troost branch library britt beushausen The corner site currently sits empty save for an old tower, the remnant of an old movie theatre. Encircled by low-slung, organic forms, the site is transformed from an empty ďŹ eld with a tower to an enclosed haven for teens and young adults. The reading tube is based on circular sections which are adapted to create spaces for users to feel enclosed and safe. Readers can lean against the curved walls to maintain a comfortable position. Exterior cladding for the reading tube is a metal rain-screen with gaps for natural light and ventilation. The cafe space takes a stepping form that rises toward Brush Creek Blvd, then from the corner shifts to rise taller toward the tower. The larger part of the L shape contains seating areas. In two parts of the cafe, large louvered doors can open to allow cross-ventilation and natural light. The cafe building is clad in a wooden rain-screen and louver system. Holding the corner, the ďŹ lleted edge of the cafe is a polycarbonate facade that allows passing cars and pedestrians to see indications of movement.

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TROOST COMMUNITY RADIO 4446 troost radio station brandon lewis This radio station is an institution which highlights the people of Manheim Park, Hyde Park, and other residential areas adjacent to Troost Avenue. It is a small operation of local producers and DJs to encourage involvement in music by the community. Part of this effort is the radio stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to accommodate rehearsals and public concerts. The courtyard and adjacent rehearsal space can open to 45th St during a public show, allowing residents to experience the music purposely or incidentally. The radio station also includes an extensive music library accessible to the public. Residents of the surrounding communities can come listen to and checkout albums from the library, including the work of local musicians, who are encouraged to donate to the library as a way of advertising to the public. Troost Community Radio hopes to provide a destination for people passing along Troost Ave which is unique to the surrounding neighborhoods. By engaging the street and reaching out to the public, the station can provide an alternative to what has become the norm on Troost Ave.

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ReSTORE 4510 troost habitat for humanity restore brandon froelich

This project attempts to create a fusion between the designed and non-designed elements that make up an urban fabric. Often times, the most successful urban spaces are simply products of resourceful individuals and without any higher design intentions. Designer interventions can seem contrived and underestimate the extremely organic, thrifty and enterprising nature of those living in a dense urban condition. So how do you navigate the strands between design and everyday urbanism? The approach here is to introduce a new building adjacent to the remains of an old car wash. The line between new and old is clearly defined and the fusion occurs through the sharing of program. The parking lot and car wash serve as the local flea market and the ReStore is capable of opening up to invite a continuous flow of people. On busy days, the boundary between ReStore and the flea market is completely blurred thus creating an active new business while resuscitating an otherwise abandoned structure.

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TROOST BRANCH LIBRARY 4600 troost branch library lane brown One of the most glaring missing pieces along Troost Ave is the lack of a public building dedicated to the educational and social needs of the community. A proposed new branch library for Kansas City at the intersection of Brush Creek Blvd and Troost Ave would provide the area with a positive environment for young people to socialize, as well as establish an iconic presence for the urban community. The library’s form and height are inﬂuenced by the existing historic tower on the lot and the generic “big box” pharmacies adjacent to the site. Three horizontal planes are pushed, pulled, and sliced to respond to different site and programmatic conditions. The planes are intersected and joined by a triple-height atrium. As the user ascends upward, more space is devoted to stacks and reading spaces. The facade responds to the function of the spaces inside, either as solid concrete panels, translucent channel glass, or a transparent alternated glazing system.

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ITERATION THREE CRITIQUE May 7, 2010 at el dorado inc

critics: • David Dowell • Matthew Hufft • Hashim Sarkis • Brad Satterwhite • Josh Shelton • Mike Sinclair • Doug Stockman • May Tveit

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TROOST TROOST TROOST student work exploring realities, possibilities and fantasies on Troost Avenue a collaborative exhibition University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design and Planning Kansas City Art Institute Department of Graphic Design el dorado inc opening reception Friday May 21 2010, 6-9 pm exhibition runs May 21-June 12 Project Space / 21 East 12th Street KC MO

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It was hard, but we’ve never learned so much. We engaged with the realities of Kansas City and its complex urban problems in a profound and rewarding way. As difficult and stressful as the year was at times, we wouldn’t have finished our architectural education any other way. We began to understand and appreciate the conflicted and weighty position of Troost Avenue and its surroundings in the history of Kansas City as we never knew before. We’re convinced there is rich potential to respectfully and thoughtfully transform Troost Avenue – and similar areas in major cities across the country – but great commitment is needed to accomplish such a transformation. We discovered that architectural design can play a powerful role in that, if its limitations are recognized and architects partner with others. As our thinking deepened, our basic architectural skills also developed – obvious in the difference between our early drawings from the fall and our final work in the spring. We learned to multi-task, prioritize and work hard as never before. This year has prepared us to enter the profession with confidence, and with thoughtfulness. And along the way, we had some fun. We’re proud to say we graduated as “The 5th year el dorado studio”

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people

ROW ONE: josh shelton, david dowell ROW TWO: britt beushausen, lane brown, chad cover ROW THREE: katie darter, meghan ďŹ&#x201A;icek, brandon froelich ROW FOUR: jeff hayes, brandon lewis, stefan novosel ROW FIVE: algonquin tolbert, mark scherrer, chris webster 177

thank you.

To Josh and David, along with the entire team at el dorado – We have rarely enjoyed such committed teachers over the past ﬁve years. Throughout the hard work and successes of the year, your commitment to shaping us into better architects was obvious. You revealed our blind spots and weaknesses, showed us what it looks like to approach architectural design thoughtfully, and taught us the true critical skills of the profession. Your passionate devotion to architecture as a discipline and a way of engaging the world is inspiring. We are convinced the profession beneﬁts from your instruction of future architects. Thanks for the time, energy and money you invested in teaching us. Thanks for your continual patience, and when you lost patience for good reasons. And thanks for having a lot of fun with us too. We all have great admiration for the two of you, the architecture produced by el dorado, and all the people who make up el dorado.

Cheers! The studio

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credits

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Josh Shelton [principal at el dorado, inc], David Dowell [principal at el dorado, inc.], Liz Ogbu [principal at Public Architecture], James Woodfill [artist, instructor at KCAI], Luke Jordan [lecturer at University of Kansas], Jessica LyewAyee [graduate KCAI art student], Morgan Allen [graduate KCAI art student], Hashim Sarkis [principal at Hashim Sarkis Studios], Chris Chapin [chair of graphic design at KCAI], Henry Klein [Habitat for Humanity board member], Brad Satterwhite [principal at KEM STUDIO], Matthew Hufft [principal at Hufft Projects and fabrication studio MAKE], May Tveit [Industrial design professor at University of Kansas], Mike Sinclair [professional photographer], Douglas Stockman [principal at el dorado, inc. ], Dan Maginn [principal at el dorado, inc. ], Rodney Knott [Manheim Neighborhood Association President], Peter Gluck [principal of Peter Gluck and Partners], Christof Jantzen [principal at Behnisch, Behnisch and Partner in Los Angeles], Vladimir Krstic [professor for Kansas State University College of Architecture], Jacob Wagner [assistant professor in Architecture and Planning at UMKC], Whitney Terrell [writer-in-residence at UMKC], Tanner Colby [author and researcher], Hesse McGraw [curator at Bemis Art Center in Omaha, NE], Richard Farnan [professor at the University of Kansas Architecture School], Chris Theis [The Carbon Neutral Design Project], Shannon Criss [professor at the University of Kansas Architecture School], Nils Gore [professor at the University of Kansas Architecture School], John Gaunt [dean at the University of Kansas Architecture School], Fashion Architecture Taste [progressive firm from the UK], Mutual Musicians Foundation [historic jazz union], Michael Vahrenwald [contemporary photographer], Dana Sperry [digital artist], Bus Rapid Transit [efficient transportation system], Gordon Matta Clark [artist], Spike Lee [film director, producer, writer and actor], and Álvaro Siza [contemporary Portuguese architect].

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project index

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BY BUILDING TYPE

BY PERSON

Branch Bank 62, 72, 86

Britt Beushausen 50, 94, 152

Branch Library 49, 54, 82, 98, 128, 130, 138, 144, 152, 164

Lane Brown 76, 114, 164

Mixed Use 70, 76, 80, 94, 108, 132, 148

Chad Cover 54, 104, 148

Radio Station 58, 66, 112, 114, 154

Katie Darter 62, 98, 132

ReSTORE 50, 104, 158

Meghan Flicek 80, 104, 130

Curveballs 122, 140

Brandon Froelich 66, 98, 158 Jeff Hayes 72, 112, 138 Brandon Lewis 48, 94, 154 Stefan Novosel 82, 108, 128 Mark Scherrer 58, 108, 122 Algonquin Tolbert 86, 112, 140 Chris Webster 70, 114, 144

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REALITIES. Troost Avenue is a major transportation and mixed-use corridor. Once the most desirable commercial and residential address in Kansas City, it is the longest continuous street in town. Passionate residents and business owners vie to define the future of Troost alongside a troubled history, depressed property values, poor public schools and no guarantees. Revitalizing Troost Avenue is a complex proposition, but one that appears to be gaining momentum. What is Troost Avenue in 2010? And what role might architecture play in the revitalization effort? POSSIBILITIES. Troost Avenue possesses significant advantages – central location, good public transportation, solid infrastructure and location awareness. It is currently the beneficiary of two major infrastructure investment initiatives – the Troost Bus Rapid Transit line (Kansas City’s most significant investment into public transportation) and the Green Impact Zone of Missouri (a federal, state and local effort focused on leveraging stimulus investment into chronically underfunded Kansas City neighborhoods). Government, and the City of Kansas City, Missouri, in particular, does not appear willing to turn its back completely on the future of Troost. What does the future Troost Avenue look like? Which pieces of its history, physical and cultural fabric are important to carry forward? FANTASIES. A public radio station. A branch library. A community bank. An urban Habitat ReStore. Mixed-use commercial and residential. What if 30 case studies with diverse interpretations of these programs began to appear along Troost Avenue from 39th Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard? What might the cumulative effect be?

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