OFFICIAL - Performing Arts Center construction

[IraGlacialis]

Ugh. Cute building, but I wish single story buildings in this part of town were a thing of the past.

It really can't help being built the time that it was.
At the same token, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to gut the building and build a mid-to-high rise residence on top of it.

[Midtownkid]

At the same token, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to gut the building and build a mid-to-high rise residence on top of it.

Exactly. Would make a great solid base for a more airy apartment building.

[pash]

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[Midtownkid]

Yeah. A lot of cities have been implementing this idea for decades. Cities like DC are especially obsessed with keeping facades but building completely new buildings behind the original facades. This has led to an interesting street wall on lots of different blocks here. One thing that is sad is the loss of historic interiors...but it's much better than losing the entire structure.

[FangKC]

Probably the most well-known adaptive reuse of a building is the Hearst headquarters building in New York City.

Before



After

[IraGlacialis]

One thing that is sad is the loss of historic interiors...but it's much better than losing the entire structure.

Well, in many cases, unfortunately the interior has been so far gone that you might as well gut the place (if it hasn't been gutted already).
And in some cases, you can probably build on top of a structure and still end up preserving the entire thing (or at least the majority) by putting the entrance/lobby in the adjacent lot (as seen with the Toronto project).

In the case of KC, I see a whole slew of low-rises that would lend themselves well to such a renovation. In the case of the deco/streamline structure by the PAC, I bet that it wouldn't bee too hard to design a complementary high-rise for it.

[FangKC]

Another good example of adaptive reuse is the Beekman Regent at E. 51st and First Avenue, Manhattan, New York City. The building was originally Public School 135, an elementary school built in 1892 in the Romanesque Revival style.

I recall when this project occurred. The former school building facade was in terrible shape, and I was surprised it was saved. After the facade got a good cleaning, it completely transformed.

[FangKC]

It is true. In a lot of these adaptive reuses of facades, the interior has already been lost. I think the Beekman Regent/public school building had suffered a fire in the interior that had gutted portions of it already.

In some cases, these historic buildings didn't have remarkable interiors to begin with. It was only the facade that was worth saving.

If you recall, I always advocated reusing the facade of the former Grand Opera House in some sort of adaptive reuse. The interior was long gone anyway. While the parking garage inside made it hard to reuse the entire building, I think the front facade was worth saving as the entrance to a new building.

[aknowledgeableperson]

Just look at the KC examples with the TP and the Jenkins facade on Walnut.

[pash]

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[Highlander]

Just look at the KC examples with the TP and the Jenkins facade on Walnut.

And the Boley Building was incorporated into the Town Pavilion.

The building by the Performing Arts Center, however, is just too small to doing thing of scale with. Beyond a 1 or 2 story addition, I think it would look pretty stupid.

[moderne]

Kauffman better than Sydney Opera House? http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/ ... 1ouqr.html

[Highlander]

Had the good fortune to see the Nutcracker while in KC and we had very good seats. I was incredibly impressed by the building, it was my first chance to get a look at the inside. The only issue was, and I can't complain too much, is that we were sitting behind the aisle at ground level and there was precious little legroom for tall people like myself. Otherwise, an altogether fantastic experience. I was dreading sitting through the ballet ( I was there primarily to see the building - daughter and wife for the ballet) but found that equally impressive.

[rxlexi]

Glad you enjoyed the Nutcracker Highlander. Quick question - what is the performing arts center like in Houston? I believe they have a DT facility no? How does it compare?

[Highlander]

Glad you enjoyed the Nutcracker Highlander. Quick question - what is the performing arts center like in Houston? I believe they have a DT facility no? How does it compare?

They do have a downtown performing arts center in Houston. I've not been inside but it's not nearly as prominent or unique as KC's on the outside.

[moderne]

Houston does not have a performing arts center in the sense of Kauffman or Lincoln Center even, rather they have a performance arts district in a series of buildings designed seperately over time.

[Highlander]

Houston does not have a performing arts center in the sense of Kauffman or Lincoln Center even, rather they have a performance arts district in a series of buildings designed seperately over time.

The Hobby Center is what I think of when talking about a performing arts center in Houston. My son has been there for several events and says it's not near as nice as the the Kaufman.

http://www.downtownhouston.org/guidedet ... ming-arts/

[rxlexi]

So, as I was reading another thread about nighttime building lighting in downtown KC, I thought of one of my criticisms of the PAC and of American urban areas in general. Why is it lit so poorly at night?

I mean, the glowing front lobby is inviting and unique, as planned, but the spectacular stainless steel clam shells and roof are minimally lit from behind/below when they should be positively radiant on the nighttime skyline. I always think of Europe and the ultra bright up-lights they place on many of their landmark city center buildings and wonder why we don't have similar brilliant lighting on some of our urban core gems? Maybe it's just me thinking this?

[Midtownkid]

I think the original idea (from the rendering) of lining the back with neon or some other lighting would have been really cool. Had to potential to look tacky, but in this day and age we have so many new types of lights they could probably pull this off to look classy. I love the light shows they can display on the back, very dramatic...but day to day, just up-lighting the back is very underwhelming.

[rxlexi]

yup, midtown, the light ribs on the shells (LEDs, I thought?) where what I expected to get. Very disappointed in the end result as compared to the rendering.