This week, each group member was designated as a “steward” to tackle the different objectives for each project. (Urban Design Framework Steward, Bridge Development Steward, Tactile Details Steward). The Tactile Detail Stewards in particular have begun working on tactile prototypes of bridge elements with a final goal being physical section prototypes of guardrails, or details studying materiality and connection within the overall bridge design. Students have been refining their welding skills at El Dorado and learning more about the workshop tools and resources available to the studio.

Seminar

Continuing our focus from last week's KCDC Seminar Class we visited the Kansas City Central Public Library to view the current exhibition, Detoured: The Making of Bruce R. Watkins Drive. We learned more about the making of Highway 71, the resistance to its construction, and the deleterious effects it has had on the black community in Kansas City. This exhibition will be open on the 5th Floor of the Kansas City Central Library until February 28th, 2026.

Exploring Central Avenue by Bike 🚲

Yesterday, our studio took to the streets for a bike ride through KCK’s Central Avenue corridor! 

A huge thank you to CABA, Unified Government, and Mark Horne for facilitating the ride—it was a great way to experience the area firsthand.

Check out our events page for more information on our community meeting at Splitlog Coffee Company, where we’ll share more about our project and gather input from local voices. We’re excited to keep the conversation rolling!

Continuing the progression into this semester’s projects, the studio has made selections for which design concepts will be developed further for the Central Avenue Bridge.  While these selected concepts will move forward, many design elements from the mid-review presentation remain noteworthy. Digital and graphic design are critical in architecture, serving as essential tools for visualizing and communicating design concepts. Below are a few of the collages and renders that were created for the mid-crit to showcase the experience of the connected designs.

Continuing with the KCDC seminar class, on March 27, we hosted Nico Giles for a screening of the documentary he produced titled Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance. The screening provided an introduction to the history and impact of the Highway 71 construction in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Kansas City. After the initial viewing, we learned solution-based urban design examples happening in Kansas City from both Max Kaniger (CEO Kanbe’s Market) and Fr. Justin Mathews

(Chief Executive Officer of COO Reconciliation Services/Thelma's Kitchen.) Following that, we participated in a brief workshop where we were tasked with developing ideas that could be considered for the area affected by the highway’s positioning.

Last week we had mid-review critiques for our bridge projects. Most students were hard at work finalizing their models and boards in preparation for Friday’s presentations. We’d like to thank representatives from Benesch Engineering, el dorado Architects, the Central Avenue Betterment Association, the Downtown Council, West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture, Planning for the Unified Government of Kansas City, KS, and Dr. Stacey L. Hutchinson, Environmental Engineer & Associate Engineering Dean, for attending our presentation and providing feedback on each of our bridges. We presented a total of 15 designs, and with the help of everyone in attendance, we selected the five designs moving forward in development.

MODEL

Built from 1/8-inch chipboard, this model spans ten feet in length and 29 ½ inches in width, featuring an acrylic river, 3D-printed buildings, and a replica of the existing bridge. A few of us in the studio dedicated time from our busy schedules to construct it, ensuring everyone could use it to build their own bridge models. Each layer was carefully planned in our modeling software and then laser-cut with the help of local makerspaces, including Hammerspace and AAC Enterprise - Custom Laser Engraving Services Kansas City. We encountered some issues with our studio laser and couldn’t have completed this model without the support of these two local makerspaces—we’d like to extend our gratitude!

Seminar with NOMA KC

Our seminar event coincided with the NOMA KC Chapter Coffee Talk. NOMAKC Coffee Talk is a series of informal, casual conversations hosted by the NOMAKC to empower members and allies, explore solutions to industry issues, and foster a sense of community. This was a great way for us as students in the beginning stages of a career to hear from current professionals. This week we discussed career transitions, including the transition into leadership & supporting growth & development. As a student, this was an inclusive discussion with professionals. We were encouraged to talk about how we think about our careers in the future. It was also a great opportunity to ask questions about firm culture.

Happy Hour at Clark & Enersen

On Friday, March 7, we were invited to a happy hour hosted by the architecture firm Clark & Enersen, located in the Crossroads. During the event, we were given a tour of their office and treated to an insightful presentation about the firm’s areas of expertise. As we enjoyed drinks and snacks, we had the opportunity to learn more about the exciting work Clark & Enersen is doing!

While on our way to Clark & Enersen a few students including our professor took the KC Streetcar down to the Crossroads and enjoyed a walk in the crossroads to the Clark & Enersen offices!