That Building Off Highway 70...

...is the new Headquarters for Midwest Public Risk which opened in Independence, Missouri this month.  The building is just East of the Independence Events Center and has been attracting quite a bit of attention and visitors pulling off the highway to check out the building.  The signature building, designed by SFS and built by A.L. Huber General Contractors, reflects MPR's desire to create a highly sustainable building that provides a great environment for staff and clients. 

 

 all photos by: aaron dougherty

additional photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfsarchitecture/sets/72157625430804597/

The Thompson Center Grand Opening

 http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/12/03/1203-autism-center-grand-opening/

It is incredibly rewarding to be able to design projects for clients like the Thompson Center.  The service they provide to families and our community is incredible and we thoroughly enjoyed working with them to create a space that will help serve their mission of providing research, training and treatment for autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.  

Color+Couture 2010

 

SFS participated in the 2010 IIDA Color & Couture Fashion Show.  In partnership with Herman Miller, the SFS designers created a dress that reflected the team's assigned theme of the 1900's.  The dress utilized Herman Miller products including seating fabrics, task chair mesh and vertical surface fabric.

Built Environment & Outdoor Summit

Kerry Newman, Principal with SFS Architecture and Steve Rhoades, a Principal with Patti Banks Associates presented at the 2010 Built Environment & Outdoor Summit on the value and benefits of creating integrated indoor / outdoor spaces. Kerry and Steve highlighted both public and private sector projects for recreation, corporate office, public administration, education and community spaces that create added value for staff, visitors and the community.

For additional information on the conference: http://www.krpa.org/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=53&extmode=view&extid=507

PARK(ing) Day!

PARK(ing) Day (parkingday.org) is an annual, worldwide event that inspires city dwellers everywhere to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good.  SFS staff did our own park right outside our office at 12th and Grand in Downtown Kansas City. 

Check out more pictures of our "park" at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfsarchitecture/sets/72157624881113667
 

SFS Ladies Night!

Hard work deserves to be rewarded...with margaritas!

SFS Awarded Grandview Parks & Public Works Maintenance Facility

SFS Architecture has been selected by the City of Grandview to design a new facility to house its parks and public works maintenance operations.  SFS will work with the parks and public works departments to develop a plan that integrates their operations in order to maximize efficiency.  The facility will also be designed to achieve the City's goal of LEED Silver minimum certification. 

Project Change Challenge 4: Nutter Park

Our final 2010 Project Change Challenge for Nutter Park in the Ivanhoe neighborhood made the Fox 4 evening news.  All 15 Project Change teams worked together to transform an open lot into a welcoming park for the neighborhood.  Hundreds of volunteers came out on a rainy Saturday to build, dig, weed, and plant.  The SFS team, Awaken KC, designed and installed a Children's Raingarden/Butterfly Garden with the Ivanhoe neighborhood Girl Scout Troop. 

http://www.fox4kc.com/news/wdaf-volunteers-fixup-ivanhoe-nieghborhood-051510,0,432576.story

For more info on our team's projects check out our team page at:
http://www.projectchange-kc.org/awakenkc2010.htm
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=46860687839&ref=ts

Lutjen Inc's LEED Certified Office Space

Lutjen Inc. has officially moved into their new SFS designed office space in North Kansas City.  The project, which is an adaptive reuse of an existing building is pursuing LEED Silver Certification.  Creating a positive environment for staff was of utmost priority, so features such as indirect lighting, envelope insulative improvements, natural light and exterior views were incorporated throughout the space.

New Project: MGE Office & Warehouse

SFS Architecture was selected by Missouri Gas & Energy and design-build contractor, A.L. Huber Construction, to be the architect for MGE's new office, warehouse and meter shop in St. Joseph, Missouri. The building will be designed to achieve a minimum of LEED Silver Certification.

SFS Takes Home 3 MADA Awards

SFS was awarded 3 honors this past weekend at IIDA Mid America Chapter's Design Awards. The Osage Prairie YMCA Natatorium Addition received "Best of Show Runner Up" and Gold in the Sports & Recreation Category. The L.H. Bluford Library Renovation won Silver for the Renovation & Restoration category.

Border Challenge for Autism II

Border Challenge for Autism II, held April 14th at Boulevard Brewing Co. was a huge success. The event was organized by SFS Architecture's Project Change Team Awaken KC. The event raised awareness and $10k for MU's Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders and the Kansas Center for Autism Research & Training. Special thanks to Nate Bukaty and Steven St. John of 810 Radio's Border Patrol for emceeing the event.

Event pics are available at www.flickr.com/photos/sfsarchitecture/sets/72157623765275607

Completed Project: Maryville Recreation Center Addition

The new addition includes an aerobics room, personal training/spinning room, coffee/juice bar, yoga room and mutil purpose meeting space.

A Very Cool Roof

The new, white "cool" roof and 22kW photovoltaic system on the Dole US Courthouse is complete! SFS in conjunction with Rand Construction, Derbigum Energy Innovations and e-PGEN designed and installed the system for the GSA as a High Performance Building Upgrade under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The system was implemented as an opportunity to generate energy as well as encourage renewable energy strategies in the Kansas City area.

Monitoring of the energy generated by the PV installation can be followed at www.deckmonitoring.com/dole_courthouse. The information automatically updates every 15 minutes to show how much energy has been collected and stored by the system.

The project is one of the first GSA ARRA projects completed in the country.

SFS Holiday Event: A Success!!!

Many thanks to all that attended our office holiday party benefiting Project Warmth! The Chili was warm, the beer was cold and we were surrounded by many wonderful friends, colleagues and clients. Together we collected nearly 100 coats, blankets, scarves, and sweaters to donate to support Project Warmth (www.projectwarmthkc.com).

And to those of you that were wondering...Mike Shaughnessy was the winner of the Chili Cook-off. He's quite proud of his new title.