#KCCornerstone Finalist: Kansas City University Administration Building

In Cornerstone Awards by EDCKC Staff

Kansas City University Administration Building
1750 Independence Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64106

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences is a private university comprising a College of Osteopathic Medicine founded in 1916 and a College of Biosciences. KCUMB is the oldest medical school in Kansas City and the largest in the state of Missouri.

Originally home to the first Children’s Mercy Hospital, the 100-year-old building became part of KCU in the 1970s. Today, the newly renovated building hosts KCU’s administration and welcomes new students to the campus. It includes a coffee bar, offices and shared study space.

The building serves over 1,000 KCUMB students and approximately 70 members of KCUMB’s faculty and staff. KCUMB partnered with Helix Architecture + Design on a $13.2 million renovation to transition the administrative space into an open office environment in order to enhance inter-department communication and improve student access.

In line with KCUMB’s commitment to sustainability, Helix developed a building renovation concept that re-used the existing structure while re-configuring and modernizing the space to better serve the university’s needs. The project incorporated high-efficiency building systems, improved the indoor environment for building users and repurposed existing materials to the fullest extent possible. The newly remodeled Administration Building received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the US Green Building Council for its energy-efficient, high-performing design and construction.