Project type and Program: 24 hour industrial impound function + daily customer service / retrieval function. Differing programmatic requirements and resultant vehicular circulation led to separation of program into two conditioned buildings and one open air storage structure.
Intent: Our intent was to create an unexpectedly pleasant place, both for employees and customers, and to create a facility that was as resource-efficient as possible. The site is directly adjacent to a coal-fired power plant; a water treatment facility; a landfill; a rail line and a major highway intersection. We wanted to reduce our impact on all of these infrastructural elements.
Solution: The design team made an effort to be as straightforward as possible. By paying careful attention to siting and circulation forces, we split the function into 3 separate buildings and a series of impound lots, with sustainable landscape features surrounding the entire facility. The need for well-daylit, industrial-grade exterior and interior spaces were stressed by the KCMO project managers. The design team detailed the facility in a straightforward manner, and worked closely with the GC during construction to ensure good craftsmanship.
