Arte KC

BUILD

Arte KC is a new mixed-use development located in downtown Kansas City, where the design of the parking garage presented a key architectural opportunity. Highly visible from multiple vantage points across the city, including major routes into downtown from the south, the garage demanded a façade solution that would not only be visually compelling but also economically viable. From the earliest stages of schematic design, we worked closely with the project architects to reimagine the garage as a canvas for large-scale public art. Collaborating with Derek Porter Studio, various artistic concepts were explored and refined into a singular, cohesive visual statement that would define the building’s identity within the cityscape.

To achieve this, the team specified a tensile mesh cladding system using Type 1A Ventilated PES with 28% and 34% open area, balancing transparency and airflow with visual impact. This solution provided significant cost advantages over traditional metal cladding systems, enabling the integration of custom artwork at a scale that would have otherwise exceeded the project’s budget. The result is a bold, contemporary façade that transforms the parking structure into a landmark public artwork, contributing to the cultural and architectural fabric of downtown Kansas City while delivering functional screening and ventilation performance.