A healthy building for all

Southeast Community Center
City of Kansas City Department of Parks and Recreation
Kansas City, MO

To better serve its urban residents, the City of Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners wanted to build a new, state-of-the-art community center to replace the existing, outdated and underutilized one. A five-acre site in Swope Park was identified, and KAI assisted the City in determining the location within the site for a new 45,000 SF, $10 million community center.

After successful community engagement meetings, designers collaborated with the City’s staff and stakeholders to ensure all needs were met. The design was intended to integrate itself into the existing urban setting and minimize any disruption of the existing park character by using existing land contours, colors, textures and locally quarried stone. The building’s orientation and various elements, such as overhangs and window recesses, were carefully chosen to minimize summer heat gain, thereby reduce energy cost and maximize winter day lighting. Careful consideration of interior space arrangements allowed for convenient access to various activities including recreation areas, crafts, classrooms and meeting rooms that can be used simultaneously without disruption.

The City was committed to achieving LEED certification at the Silver level, so KAI emphasized a number of interior LEED design credits utilizing natural materials, lighting, air quality and promoting a “healthy” building while keeping in harmony with the parks natural setting.

Services

Architecture, Interior Design, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Plumbing Engineering, Project Management, Cost Estimating

The Impact

Bringing Loved Ones Together

The Southeast Community Center's goal was to create a place where family and friends can come together. KAI is proud to have helped build a facility that includes a full-sized basketball court, meeting rooms, game room, tot drop-off, craft room, therapy pool, recreation pool with play features and fitness area with weights and cardiovascular equipment. With these features as well as the classes offered at the community center, families and friends from all over can join each other in fun activities and games.

Project Recognition

LEED Silver Certified