Kansas City Art Institute building dedication

Posted: March 17, 2020

Student residence hall, union & dining center
Kansas City Art Institute

Christopher Carvell Architects (CCA) is pleased to announced the completion of building dedication of the new Barbara Marshall Residence Hall , Wylie Dining Center, the Sherman Family Student Union and Café Nerman.

Designed in partnership with Helix Architecture + Design. Carvell Architects served as the design teams higher education consulting design architect for student life, in the realization of this new campus gateway project. The 87,000-square foot 4-story multi-layered project will endeavor to provide the greatest gift one can give an artist which is The space to create.

Located at the western edge of its 16 acres downtown campus, the project will comprise a vibrant new destination retail cafe/grill (open to the public), a 200 seat all you-care-to-eat micro restaurant Wylie Dining Center, the sherman Family Student Union, and the Barbara Marshall 244 bed residence hall.

The new student life building was designed to look beyond traditional student housing models incorporating performance & gallery spaces nurturing the creativity and wellbeing of art students & the museum community. Featuring loft like double occupancy semi-suites with compartmental bathrooms, a wide range of study, gathering, entertainment/stadia seating spaces, a large living room / gaming center & a two story atrium. The residence hall connects internally to its state of the Art Wylie Dining Center. The building celebrates the unique individuality of each student while creating a sense of community – celebrating the art ribbon gateway to campus and its museum neighbors.

The contemprorary student coming to KCAI to study deserves the best possible living space and the residence hall will be exactly what the students and their parents want – a home that is comfortable, relaxing and safe, with high connectivity,” said KCAI President Tony Jones. “After a day of working in the  studio, they can return to a supportive community and a place they can make their own.” KCAI is a private independent four-year college of Art & Design situated between two world class museums (The Kemper & Nelson Atkins) – Awarding the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with 13 studio majors founded in 1885, KCAI is Kansas City’s oldest art organization.