On July 22, the Facades+ conference series will be held in Kansas City at the Kansas City Marriott. The event offers a full day of programming developed in collaboration with BNIM principals Joyce Raybuck and James Pfeiffer. Attendees are also encouraged to visit the Methods + Materials gallery, which features 18 exhibiting building product companies.
Click here to find more information and register.
Reclad Refresh: Sustainable Solutions for High-Performance Renovations
In the first session of the day, Bryan Howard of Thornton Tomasetti and Stephen Shatswell of Krueck Sexton Partners will discuss the intricacies of replacing the all-glazed exterior assemblies of the Charles E. Whittaker Federal Courthouse in Kansas City with high-performance glazing. Informed by thermal analysis and carbon reduction strategies, the renovation improved energy efficiency while preserving the precast and granite cladding. Anchors installed in existing slabs supported the new curtainwall and were engineered to handle nearly ten times the original load. Positioned at floor level, they reduced lift work, improved on-site safety, and allowed phased installation while the building remained in use.
Facades as Place-Makers: Enclosure Design, Community Development and Public Good
Next up is a panel exploring how facade design can support affordable homeownership and community development. Godfrey Riddle of Civic Saint and Douglas Stockman of Helix Architecture will share examples of how facade designs can help communities reclaim and celebrate their identity. Riddle will share the vision behind Civic Saint, a community-driven initiative that designs affordable housing using compressed earthen blocks (CEBs), while Stockman will discuss The Crosswalks, a mixed-use project aimed at revitalizing an underserved neighborhood through principles of human scale and transparency.
Constraints as Opportunity: Developing a Problem-Solving Ecosystem for Facade Design Excellence
In this session, architects at BNIM will show how constraints can lead to design opportunities. Guided by the AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence, the speakers will highlight three BNIM projects with high-performance facades: the Glenn Korff School of Music in Lincoln, Nebraska; Blunt Hall in Springfield, Missouri; and the Las Vegas Downtown Civic Center. Each panelist will share an approach to facade material selection, detailing, and composition that responds to contextual and social needs.
Context is Key: High-Performance and Climate-Responsive Facade Solutions
Next, Emily Taylor of Hutton will present the award-winning Youngmeyer Field Station in Elk County, Kansas, and Dan Maginn of Dake Wells will present the Merriam Plaza Library in Merriam, Kansas. Both projects show sensitivity to the landscape and express their connection to context through facade material choices, assemblies, and orientation. The field station combines solid limestone walls, punched openings, and floor-to-ceiling glass to balance shelter and openness. The library—clad in durable, individually replaceable öko skin panels—features louvered apertures that filter daylight and connect visitors to the surroundings.
History, Materiality, and Durability: SHSMO’s Center for Missouri Studies
In the final presentation of the day, Sean Zaudke of Multistudio will discuss the facade of the Center for Missouri Studies, the LEED Gold–certified home of the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia. Designed by Kansas City–based Multistudio, the building’s regional identity is expressed through locally sourced Ste. Genevieve limestone cladding. The limestone panels are supported by a concealed sub-framing system with continuous insulation, enhancing both durability and energy efficiency.
Advancements in Facade Design for Sports & Entertainment: A Global Perspective
In a roundtable discussion, speakers from HOK, Walter P Moore, VIA, and Populous will share experiences, lessons learned, and industry trends driving innovation in sports and entertainment design. Kansas City has long been a leader in this field, home to several large-scale projects including stadiums, concert halls, and convention centers. Focusing on emerging technologies and material experimentation, the group will discuss how recent projects around the globe have pushed the boundaries of scale and complexity in the design of these venues.
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