DRAW was hired by Jackson County Public Works as the architect of record and design architect to renovate the historic, barrel-vaulted Oscar Maple Motors building in Independence, MO.

This functional and efficient design features nodes of student activity, and offers their completed works to be displayed and available for sale within a storefront retail space. An open-studio floor plan was created to maximize space around a centralized gallery with movable walls further expanding the flexibility of use. A small entry plaza provides an area to showcase sculpture and acts as a platform for public performance.

The project aims to create a supportive environment to foster students and their teachers in the active pursuit of art within the community. Located a block from historic Independence Square, the building provides an opportunity for the public to view artists at work and the possibility to interact and share in the future of this exciting program.

MyArts offers apprenticeships in multiple disciplines, including photography, painting, graphic design, screen printing and ceramics. Previously located in downtown Kansas City, MO, the organization has become a haven for at-risk teens from every corner of the Metro area, where youth can explore and express their creative abilities and identify possibilities for future careers in the arts.

The project recently earned the American Public Works Association's (APWA) 2013 KC Metro Chapter Award for Historical Restoration/Preservation under $5 million.