Kansas City has seen major investments in infrastructure, community-scale urban improvement, entertainment venues, and significant growth in both downtown employment and residential populations, which is represented especially well by millennials. Heightened interest in the use of downtown Kansas City’s public spaces has come with these trends.

BRV is part of a team developing plans for the renovation of Barney Allis Plaza, a 3.2-acre public square and city park. The plaza is located above an aging three-story parking garage. Neighboring the site are the city’s Convention Center, hotels, and arts institutions. The City and other local entities have begun the process to reimagine and rebuild the plaza and the garage to better serve local communities and visitors. The goal is to activate and tie together a civic district in the heart of the city.

As part of the planning team, BRV is developing case studies, a programming plan, an operational strategy and budgets, and a governance strategy and will help test program concepts. Local stakeholders have been engaged in the visioning process for the redesigned space. BRV is also assisting with the development of the performance criteria for candidate design-build teams and will help review submissions.

Photo Credit: Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Facilities