PARTNER PROJECT WITH BEN CROSS // SENIOR DESIGN STUDIO

REVIT, SKETCHUP, PHOTOSHOP

13 WEEKS

This proposal, which combines a large-scale convention center, skyscraper hotel and an urban retail streetscape, would provide Kansas City with an icon of sustainability, as well as a breath of new life for the area’s nightlife. This complex was designed to complement and support Kansas City’s major convention center, Bartle Hall, as well as the new and acclaimed Kaufmann Performing Arts Center.

Envisioned from the start with a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and the collection of resources, this design utilizes a wide range of sustainable design strategies, even down to the orientation of the spaces.

The two most prominent of these strategies are generating energy from wind, using a set of turbines in sculpted ‘tunnels’ on the tower’s west side, and an integrated rainwater collection system, which gathers greywater from almost every horizontal surface as well as the vertical faces of the tower. Additionally, a series of vertical garden systems absorb western sunlight, growing fresh produce for use in the multiple dining areas throughout the buildings. Four intermittent lobbies provide all of the amenities and social conveniences of the main floor, saving time and relieving
strain on the integrated smart elevator system.