Troost Avenue

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troost avenueAN EXPLORATION IN INCREMENTAL INFILLAS AN URBAN DESIGN STRATEGY

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

what if troost avenue

worked for

incremental infi ll?

what if incremental infi ll

worked for

troost avenue?

5

troost avenueSTUDIO 812

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE DESIGN + PLANNING

in collaboration withEL DORADO INC

www.troostmanheim.com

an exploration in incremental infi llas an urban design strategy for

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contents

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Realities, Possibilities, Fantasies on Troost Avenue

A Letter from Tanner Colby

What if Troost Avenue worked for incremental infi ll?

What if incremental infi ll worked for Troost Avenue?

Studio structure

Calendar

Iteration One

Iteration Two

Iteration Three

TROOST TROOST TROOST: collaborative exhibition

exploring the realities, possibilities and fantasies on

Troost Avenue

Conclusion

People

Thank-yous + credits

Index of projects

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10

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26

38

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92

120

168

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178

182

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realities, possibilities,

fantasies

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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

defi ne 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 signifi cant advantages – central

location, good public transportation, solid infrastructure

and location awareness. It is currently the benefi ciary of

two major infrastructure investment initiatives – the Troost

Bus Rapid Transit line (Kansas City’s most signifi cant

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?

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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-and-

mortar 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, unifi ed 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

A LETTER FROM TANNER COLBY

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 redefi ning

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 suffi cient. 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

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what if troost avenueworked for

incremental infi ll?

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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 infi ll 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 fi fth-year architecture

design studio explored how fi ve building

types – bank branch, library branch, mixed-

use development, radio station and Habitat

for Humanity ReStore – could successfully

engage the Troost Avenue community

benefi cially as modest infi ll projects part of

such a broader strategy.

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BLAME THE POOR?

COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU

“SORRY, BUT YOU WEREN’T APPROVED”

SEPARATE BUTEQUAL?

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1Two 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.

2Of 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’.

3Real estate blockbusting became a catalyst for neighborhood transition. Blockbusting

is defi ned as real estate agents who spread word through a white neighborhood of

an impending black infl ux, to frighten whites into selling their homes cheaply. These

homes were subsequently sold to blacks at infl ated 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%.

4When 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.”

5The 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 identifi able 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 fl ight. 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.

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0% - 20%

21% - 40%

41% - 60%

61% - 80%

81% - 100%

0 - 2.500

2.501 - 5.000

5.001 - 7.500

7.501 - 10.000

10.001 +

NON-CAUCASIAN POPULATION PERSONS PER ACRE

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0 .0 - 1.5

1.6 - 2.5

2.6 - 5.0

5.1 - 15.0

15.1 +

JOBS PER ACRE

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22

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31st Street and Troost Avenue looking South (1929)

31st Street and Troost Avenue looking South (2010)

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47th Street and Troost Avenue looking East (1929)

47th Street and Troost Avenue looking East (2010)

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what if incremental infi ll worked for

troost avenue?

• BRANCH BANK• BRANCH LIBRARY• MIXED -USE• RADIO STATION• RESTORE

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The studio explored a strategy of incremental

infi ll 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 infi ll 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 infi ll relies on the cumulative

effect of individual buildings impacting

their localized areas. The modest scale of

such individual infi ll 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 infi ll

projects of fi ve 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 benefi cial services currently lacking

in the area. The thirty designs produced by

the studio demonstrate how fi lling 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.

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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 inner-

city 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.

circulation and reference desk

self-checkout copy centerpublic meeting space

library programs

group study rooms

private study rooms classrooms

books cds dvds

other media storage

book sorting area

manager’s office break room

storage loading dock

main reading room

children area teen area

periodicals reading station

entry

study rooms

community room

staff &support

stacks

computers

readingspaces

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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 librarian’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?

BRANCH LIBRARY

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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 station’s building is unfamiliar to most listeners. How can the radio station’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?

RADIO STATION

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meeting rooms

breakroom

lobby informal meeting spaces

waiting area front desk

sales marketing promotion

reporters

general manager

program director sales manager

news director

accountantcontroller

engineering rack room

mechanical storage

private offices

support

s t u d i o s

conferences open offices

open space

session weather on-air

news music production

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 offi ces 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.

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break room landlord owner

conference room break room

mechanical loading dock

storage parking

apartments suites lofts

bedrooms dining kitchen living

elevator stairwell

reception circulation

studio gallery restaurant retail

hotel small businesscommercial

residential

support

officeslobby

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 building’s

neighbors. The lofts establish a clear, single

identity appropriate to the surroundings.

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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 satisfi 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?

MIXED USE

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Positive interaction with the community is crucial to a bank’s success because money fl ow 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 entry-

exit paths and lines-of-sight be provided for customers arriving by foot and car? Tellers, loan offi cers 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?

BRANCH BANK

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receptionist

information area

ATM deposits teller convenience street access

two lanes

deposits withdrawls balance

inquiries exchanges

vault

security room

loan officers bank manager

break room conference room

drive-through

entrance

secure area

lobby

tellers

offices

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.

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reception

check-out

loading docks pick-up

independent donation

forklift pallets pricing moving

inventory

furniture appliances tools paint doors

windows wallpaper decorations

classrooms

break room

receiving

sortingoffices

showroomentry

CASE STUDY:

ReBuilding Center

Portland, OR

Orange Design Inc

Built to fi t 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 fi nd green

jobs, and holding events to unify the community.

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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 customers’ 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?

ReSTORE

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As instructors, Josh Shelton and David Dowell

of el dorado inc resolved to prepare the fi fth-

year students for professional architectural

practice by creating a studio environment

resembling the working demands of the

fi eld. 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 effi ciency

in the context of multi-tasking were all

encouraged and developed. Desk critiques,

weekly progress reviews and formal end-of-

iteration 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 infi ll may

work along Troost Avenue. By the end of the

semester, thirty projects had been produced

that explore how incremental infi ll as an urban

revitalization strategy may be implemented

with positive results in the Troost Avenue

Corridor.

STUDIO STRUCTURE

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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 fi nal 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 fi nal review

April 21: lecture: Hashim Sarkis

April 21: iteration 3 mid-review

April 29: lecture: Christof Jantzen of Behnisch Architects

May 7: iteration 3 fi nal review

May 16: KU School of Architecture graduation

May 21: TROOST TROOST TROOST exhibition at the Charlotte Street Foundation

STUDIO SCHEDULE

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iteration one39th St to 42nd St on Troost Ave

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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 specifi c 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 mixed-

use developments, two radio stations and a

ReStore.

INFLUENCES:

• Fashion Architecture Taste (FAT)

• Michael Vahrenwald

• Mutual Musicians Foundation

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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 signifi cant 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 specifi c types of

reading material. Private reading nooks in the

front facade open up inside into a communal

reading space separated from high-traffi c

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 COMMUNITY LIBRARY

4009 troost

branch library

brandon lewis

50

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 fi t 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.

TROOST ReSTORE

4141 troost

habitat for humanity restore

britt beushausen

54

The Bois Le Duc library branch, located at a

corner site in a currently dilapidated mixed-

use 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, specifi 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.

BOIS LE DUC LIBRARY

3990 troost

branch library

chad cover

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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.

BLUES + RADIO

3901 troost

radio station

mark scherrer

62

TROOST BANK + DASH DOGS

4000 troost

branch bank

katie darter

40TH ST

TRO

OST

AVE

A lack of reliable fi nancial 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 defi ning 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

fl exibility. 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.

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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

offi ce 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.

70

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 LIVE + EAT

3940 troost ave

mixed use

chris webster

72

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 offi cers are located on the fi 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 BANK

4000 troost ave

branch bank

jeff hayes

76

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 fl exible ground

level for light industrial use with a residential

component added to the second level. The

open fl oor space is set up in anticipation of

a gallery, studio, fabrication shop, or retail

store inhabiting it. Large, bi-fold doors allow

the fl ex 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 fi lter unwanted sunlight

and views inside.

TROOST FLEX SPACE

4111 troost ave

mixed use

lane brown

80

TROOST MANAGEMENT

3949 troost ave

mixed use

meghan fl icek

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 offi ce 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 curtain-

wall system on the new fl oor contrasts the

heavy adorned brick of the existing building.

Drawing infl uence from work by the German

architectural fi rm Sauerbruch and Hutton,

the building’s circular form displays a shifting

color palette.

82

The many residences on Troost Ave in this

area, as well as the neighborhoods lying

west and east of the corridor, infl uenced 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 artifi cial

lighting while providing visual paths to various

areas of activity.

TROOST LIBRARY

4019 troost

branch library

stefan novosel

86

Troost Ave provides very little to no accessibility

to bank branches. A branch bank is proposed

as an urban infi ll approach that could stabilize

the community by increasing local spending,

encouraging fi nancial 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 east-

facing clerestory to divide space and allow

light into the back. The fl oating 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

infl uence behind the vegetation and parking

strategies.

BANKING OUTLET

4437 troost

branch bank

algonquin tolbert

89

critics:

• David Dowell

• Richard Farnan

• Vladimir Krstic

• Dan Maginn

• Hesse McGraw

• Josh Shelton

• Jake Wagner

ITERATION ONE CRITIQUEMarch 12, 2010

at the Kansas City Design Center

92

iteration two42nd St to 45th St on Troost Ave

93

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

94

Examining the demographics for the Troost

Ave area revealed that the largest population

segment is the range of teenagers aged fi fteen

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 confi dent

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 fl ight and walk through an art

studio before continuing up the next fl ight of

stairs; this forced interac¬tion is designed to

create dialogue between different studios,

teens, and artists.

TEEN ARTS CENTER

4200 troost ave

mixed use

britt beushausen + brandon lewis

98

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 specifi c 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.

TROOST COMMUNITY CENTER

4242 troost ave

branch library/community center

katie darter + brandon froelich

104

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. Infl uenced

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 refl ecting 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 warehouse-

like building is set up to provide open fl oor

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.

TROOST TREASURES

4230 troost ave


chad cover + meghan fl icek

108

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 fl oral 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

fl ower beds, while a vegetated trellis screens

the view to the funeral chapel. The fl oor of the

second level is opened to allow double-story

height above the fl ower shop and an overlook

for residence. Dormer windows on the third

level are now light-wells serving all three

levels. The experience of the fl ower 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.

112

The proposal connects an existing commercial

building with an existing house. The

connection occurs by using the infl uence 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 fl exible covered

seating area connected to the exterior seating

of the cafe. Planter boxes create a barrier for

the space from the heavy traffi c of Troost Ave,

and the use of glass in the cafe and radio

station opens up the spaces for visitors to

come and interact.

BUS RADIO TRANSIT

4305 troost

radio station

jeff hayes + algonquin tolbert

114

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 infi ll 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.

119

critics:

• Shannon Criss

• David Dowell

• Nils Gore

• Luke Jordan

• Henry Klein

• Liz Ogbu

• Josh Shelton

• Jim Woodfi ll

ITERATION TWO CRITIQUEApril 9th, 2010

at el dorado inc

120

iteration three45th St to Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd

on Troost Ave

121

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 infi ll design scheme.

INFLUENCES:

• Spike Lee

• Alvaro Siza

• Hashim Sarkis

122

This project was a process of discovery

which included several site selections

and continuous modifi cations to program.

Originally, the project proposed a recreation

center at Brush Creek Blvd and Troost Ave to

house basketball courts, fi tness 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 fi nal 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.

GILLHAM STABLES

4600 block between harrison and campbell

outdoor recreation area

mark scherrer

128

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

testifi 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 defi 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.

TROOST LIBRARY

4600 troost

branch library

stefan novosel

130

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

defi 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 children’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.

SUNKEN LIBRARY

4600 troost

branch library

meghan fl icek

132

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.

TROOST GROWERS MARKET

+ WOMEN’S SHELTER

4600 troost

mixed-use

katie darter

134134

135135

138

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 profi le

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.

TROOST PARK LIBRARY

4600 troost

branch library

jeff hayes

140

There are currently two detached semi-

trailers on the site; graffi 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 acoustically-

sealed spaces, leading to the choice of

concrete as primary material for the entire

development – interrupted by signifi cant

window openings where needed. The gallery

can also function as a performance space,

depending on the desired usage and current

weather conditions.

COMING INTO EXISTENCE

4603 troost

radio station + youth performance center

algonquin tolbert

144

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 front-

and 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.

TROOST LIBRARY

4600 troost

branch library

chris webster

148148

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.

MIXED USE PROTOTYPE

4451 troost, 4501 troost, 4623 troost

mixed use development strategy

chad cover

150150

151151

152

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 fi 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 fi lleted

edge of the cafe is a polycarbonate facade

that allows passing cars and pedestrians to

see indications of movement.

READING TUBE

4600 troost

branch library

britt beushausen

154

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 station’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 check-

out 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.

TROOST COMMUNITY RADIO

4446 troost

radio station

brandon lewis

158

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 defi ned and the fusion occurs through

the sharing of program. The parking lot and

car wash serve as the local fl ea market and

the ReStore is capable of opening up to invite

a continuous fl ow of people. On busy days,

the boundary between ReStore and the fl ea

market is completely blurred thus creating

an active new business while resuscitating an

otherwise abandoned structure.

ReSTORE

4510 troost


brandon froelich

164

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

infl uenced 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.

167

critics:

• David Dowell

• Matthew Hufft

• Hashim Sarkis

• Brad Satterwhite

• Josh Shelton

• Mike Sinclair

• Doug Stockman

• May Tveit

ITERATION THREE CRITIQUEMay 7, 2010

at el dorado inc

168

photo credit: Mike Sinclair

169

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

TROOST TROOST TROOST

student work exploring realities, possibilities and

fantasies on Troost Avenue

170


171


172


175

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 diffi cult

and stressful as the year was at times, we

wouldn’t have fi nished our architectural

education any other way. We began to

understand and appreciate the confl icted

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 fi nal 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 confi dence,

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”

people

177

ROW ONE: josh shelton, david dowell

ROW TWO: britt beushausen, lane brown, chad cover

ROW THREE: katie darter, meghan fl icek, brandon froelich

ROW FOUR: jeff hayes, brandon lewis, stefan novosel

ROW FIVE: algonquin tolbert, mark scherrer, chris webster

thank you.

179

To Josh and David, along with the entire team

at el dorado –

We have rarely enjoyed such committed

teachers over the past fi ve 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 benefi ts 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

180

credits

181

Josh Shelton [principal at el dorado, inc], David Dowell

[principal at el dorado, inc.], Liz Ogbu [principal at Public

Architecture], James Woodfi ll [artist, instructor at KCAI],

Luke Jordan [lecturer at University of Kansas], Jessica Lyew-

Ayee [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 fi rm from the UK],

Mutual Musicians Foundation [historic jazz union], Michael

Vahrenwald [contemporary photographer], Dana Sperry

[digital artist], Bus Rapid Transit [effi cient transportation

system], Gordon Matta Clark [artist], Spike Lee [fi lm director,

producer, writer and actor], and Álvaro Siza [contemporary

Portuguese architect].

182

project index

183

BY BUILDING TYPE

Branch Bank

62, 72, 86

Branch Library

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

Mixed Use

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

Radio Station

58, 66, 112, 114, 154

ReSTORE

50, 104, 158

Curveballs

122, 140

BY PERSON

Britt Beushausen

50, 94, 152

Lane Brown

76, 114, 164

Chad Cover

54, 104, 148

Katie Darter

62, 98, 132

Meghan Flicek

80, 104, 130

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

186

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 defi ne 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 signifi cant advantages – central location,

good public transportation, solid infrastructure and location

awareness. It is currently the benefi ciary of two major infrastructure

investment initiatives – the Troost Bus Rapid Transit line (Kansas

City’s most signifi cant 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?

Troost Avenue

Documents

Transcript of Troost Avenue