Crosstown Substation - Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, Missouri. Unveiled June 2013. EDC Cornerstone Award for Energy, 2014. NOMA Honor Award, Built category, 2017.

The substation at 18th and Locust had been an eyesore for years, and after long deterioration the wall around it needed repair. KCP&L decided to fix the wall.

That decision was eclipsed by a vision to replace it outright with a design that would reflect the artistic community spirit of the Crossroads, lift the surrounding area and make a connection to the 18th and Vine District. The design wraps the substation in weathered steel and white concrete, with an eyebrow of weathered steel panels across the upper facade.

After dark, more than 10,000 LED lights powered by 115 solar panels bring the whole city block to life. A utility enclosure became a neighborhood landmark for roughly the cost of the wall it replaced.

S.C.O.R.E. Site Integration. Community Connection. Experience Design.