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KCAI Chooses Helix Architecture + Design to Design Student Living Center

The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) announced today that they have chosen Helix to design a new 250-bed student living center and dining hall to be built on campus starting next year. The opportunity to construct a new hall of residence is possible thanks to a $10 million lead gift by an anonymous donor, given through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation earlier this year.

For the KCAI student housing project, Helix partnered with consulting architect, Christopher Carvell Architects of Denver, Colo. Carvell has developed nationally recognized expertise in the design of “Next Generation” student life facilities.

This is a complicated project that includes not only the new 250-bed living center but also contemporary dining that will be open to the public and a large new terraced garden. “Following interviews with several firms, Helix presented a sophisticated plan on how to create a relationship between the new student living center, the new garden space and our current student housing building. The result will be a thoughtful design that takes into consideration the needs of our students, while respecting our historic Rockhill and Southmoreland neighborhoods, and advancing the college’s extensive landscape plan,” said Tony Jones, The Nerman Family President.

Reeves Wiedeman, founding principal with Helix Architecture + Design said, “KCAI’s new student housing project will be a beacon for attracting talent to the campus and our city. It is an honor to work alongside one of the country’s leading arts education institutions to redefine the student housing experience and create a space that nurtures the creativity of these young artists.”

KCAI is a private, independent four-year college of art and design awarding the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with 13 studio majors. KCAI also offers continuing education courses. Founded in 1885, the college is Kansas City’s oldest arts organization.

Helix has worked with KCAI previously on the renovation of the Richard J. Stern Ceramics Building. We are thrilled to continue our relationship on this transformative project for incoming students and the campus.