Winds of Aphrodite

Bartle Hall Convention Center Loading Dock Remodel

Working with Chinese artist Suikang Zhao, Crawford Architects and Zahner Art & Architecture gave the old Bartle Hall Loading Dock both a face-lift using a transparent metal wall panel system as well as a functional redesign, offering a fantastic first-impression of downtown Kansas City.  The project was skinned with an aluminum screen over a galvanized steel superstructure, and as night falls, thousands of computer-color-controlled LEDS light up the mesh screen.

Completed in 2008, the project required the transformation of a 70's brutalist structure into a softened and tangible, feminine work, as if it were a giant strip of fabric flying from the sky which happened to catch the corners of the convention center. Because of the way that downtown Kansas City highways are organized, when visitors first exited the highway, they would see the Bartle Hall Convention Center's loading docks, replete with overflowing dumpsters and big trucks unloading for the upcoming show.

The other part of the problem was that it was hard for the large trucks to enter the space because the original space wasn't well thought-out. Architects at Crawford re-designed the framework and brought in Chinese artist Suikang Zhao to bring a flowing perforated aluminum screen, produced, fabricated, and installed by Zahner. Zahner was also integral in the Design Assist Process, where the artists, architects and Zahner engineering directors and designers work to maximize and refine the end design.

The result of all this preparation is a new Bartle Hall Convention Center that works.  The triangular screens appear as sails flowing in the wind, allowing light to enter and disguising the view of the docks.  The previously underused loading docks are now used by every big truck that unloads at Bartle Hall.  

Zahner Aluminum Wings at Bartle Hall

Zahner Aluminum Wings at Bartle Hall

Zahner Aluminum Wings at Bartle Hall

Zahner Aluminum Wings at Bartle Hall

Zahner Aluminum Wings at Bartle Hall

Zahner Aluminum Wings at Bartle Hall

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