Kessler Park Water Reservoir Vision Study Pt. 4

KESSLER PARK WATER

KANSAS CITY DESIGN CENTER

STUDY 2021-2022

INTEGRATION

INTRODUCTION

The Integration scheme seeks to create a neighborhood amenity as well as a regional destination of the existing reservoir form, as well as the grounds surrounding it. In comparison to the two schemes before Integration, this design has changed the reservoir using the most amount of physical intervention. This was done to create a public space that would extend into the park as an addition to the landscape. We have found that as a result, the surrounding neighborhoods have gained a much more meaningful interaction with the reservoir in their backyard, as well as additional safety within Kessler Park. In the spirit of Integration, the community benefits brought by this scheme include opening up the Northeast Neighborhoods to interest and activity from elsewhere in Kansas City, despite its location. To better create a regional amenity that will benefit the community as a whole, this scheme uses the reservoir as a catalyst for future development in the Northeast Neighborhoods, and takes no small steps in order to achieve this vision. Additive and subtractive means of design were undertaken in order to create this scheme, as shown by an extreme structural change to the shell of the reservoir, and a series of additional structures. The reservoir’s south wall has been ‘cut’ away to expose its

inner world to the adjacent neighborhoods, and the inner wall that separates the two basins has also received a similar cut that further unites these two spaces. Complimentary to these subtractive elements are additional structural elements that help ignite the reservoir’s inner spaces for various activities and events. These elements help to spark new visitorship to this forgotten urban infrastructure, as well as reclaiming it as a meaningfully occupied space within Kansas City.

Overall, this scheme sees the Kessler Park reservoir as an opportunity to reclaim and reactivate a lost amenity, regionally and locally. Significant parts within the Integration scheme that accomplish this task include a large additional to the reservoir’s middle wall, which acts as a multifunctional media screen which can be positioned for multiple spatial needs, and a newly created public promenade and entry sequence that allow users to activate more of Kessler Park.

“In order for Kessler Park to harbor new life while supporting existing activity, it needs te be reestablished as a commodity that works to address two very different realms of its context.”

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Once the park was fully analyzed at a multitude of scales and access to the city was determined to be possible, a series of goals and objectives were determined to provide a clear design vision for the project moving forward. The overarching mission of the project was concluded to be “To re-purpose the Kessler Park Reservoir and use it as a catalyst for the improvement of the area while enhancing the relevance of Kessler Park to the community”.

Three primary goals were then developed to best accomplish the mission and further the value of the

vision study. The goals included creating a regional amenity, emphasizing the reservoir as an amenity to the local community, and ensuring the reservoir can function as a gathering location for the surrounding park.

Throughout the remainder of the academic year and the development of the individual design schemes, the studio mission was maintained in order to give the project a clear goal and purpose.

Mission

Goals Objectives

Develop North Pavilion for facilities and visual connections to the surrounding context

Design the reservoir to facilitate its use as a regional destination

Create a comfortable microclimate inside the reservoir

Preserve daily uses inside and outside the reservoir

Create performance amphitheater for various uses

Produce an open stage that can adapt for several types of performances

Promote pollinators within the reservoir

Store and distribute water runoff to reduce the air temperature and cultivate foliage

Use foliage to create a wind and shading barrier for plant resilience against the elements

Create south canopies for dynamic daily use

Articulate a front lawn to provide both formal and informal uses

“TointegratetheReservoirintotherestofKesslerParkwhileproviding uniqueprogrammaticopportunitiesavailabletobothcommunityand regionalvisitors.”

SITE DESIGN CONCEPT & DEVELOPMENT

While working with the outline of the overall project master plan, which was developed to provide a general framework for each design scheme, Integration takes a heavy-handed and intentional approach. The original holistic master plan was taken into account, and has been tweaked to further solidify the power of this scheme. This essentially reorders activity in Kessler Park to now take place within the scheme’s design moves, and allows for more meaningful activity alongside the reservoir’s intervention.

The entry sequence to and from the reservoir has been taken in two directions, a formal path and an informal path. Ultimately, this articulation of new paths within the park provides the resolution seen in the rest of the city through the development of a North-South axis that terminates within the reservoir at a pavilion, thus providing views to the rest of the scheme, and city beyond.

While this notion of entry and exit from Kessler Park and the reservoir is a major design move for this scheme, what occurs along these formal and informal paths within the master plan are what allow for human-scale exploration. There are a series of focus areas that have been carefully positioned and programmed to allow for neighborhood activity, as well as regional activity, to find easy access to the park. These points of activity were taken from existing street grids adjacent to Kessler Park, as well as the topography surrounding the reservoir.

MASTER PLAN

LEXINGTON AVE.

PENDLETON AVE.

ST. JOHN AVE.

Preserved and Intervention

Intervention Preserved

SCHEME HIERARCHY

While the green-space within Kessler Park was seen as non-negotiable in terms of design intervention, it became clear that the reservoir and its subsequent landscape to the south would need to be reoriented to better serve the newly established axis.

In creating a strong conceptual axis on naturally-sloped topography, we found there to be a clear solution that would help give this scheme geographical variety, as well as the opportunity to create complex spaces that respond to their environment. The formal spaces follow the existing street grid present to the west, while the informal spaces bend to the existing landscape to the east, within the park.

From the node objectives and path studies comes this division of spaces within Kessler Park. Seven design elements exist in the Integration scheme, and each of these work to activate a part of the reservoir and park, both on the regional and neighborhood scales.

Moving from south to north, we have introduced a new Entry Plaza to collect pedestrians along a formal and informal axis, and a ‘front lawn’ experience that provides two unique pathways to and from the reservoir. These together create a new space out of the vast space between Lexington Avenue and the Reservoir’s south entry. Next, the south basin, middle wall, and north pavilion address various programmatic needs, all of which are accessible to the community and region of Kansas City. To compliment the existing flora and fauna within the reservoir, a micro-climate oriented space allows for interaction with green-space.

Formal

Formal

Informal

NODE OBJECTIVES

PROGRAMMING NODES

Six main spaces were developed within this scheme, and each was created to serve a different purpose within their context. Additionally, these nodes of activity needed to relate to one another either by proximity, or through visual connection. Each of these spaces then came with their own set of goals and objectives. These spaces all seek to activate a different facet of Kessler Park or the Northeast Neighborhoods, and are oriented to provide a comprehensive spatial sequence.

North Pavilion

Views of the park

Views of the city

Support park activities

Formal termination point

Amphitheater

Support program on a regional and neighborhood scale

Create comfortable microclimate

South Basin

Shading for a comfortable microclimate Flexibility for different uses

Front Lawn

Connect entry to reservoir

Provide formal and leisure activities

Create two different experiences

Encourage pollinators

Entry Plaza

Connect Wabash, Lexington, and the North/ South axis

Create an architectural element

Relatable to the north pavilion and middle wall

Microclimate

Provide nature experience within the reservoir

Revamp wildlife in park

North Pavilion Amphitheater

Natural Interface Stage Interface Flexible Space

Front Lawn Entry Plaza

Adjacent Visual

Axonometric and Hierarchy

SITE DEVELOPMENT

WALL STUDY

Through the development of the Integration scheme, various possible cut orientations were considered to find the best solution that supports accessibility into the reservoir and provide programming for the neighborhoods as well as the city. These cuts were studied in the four cardinal directions, with the South wall being the catalyst for the rest of the scheme.

Axon

Moved Topography = 563,445 FT3

Removal Axon

Created Space

TOPOGRAPHY REMOVAL

To compliment the reservoir’s South wall removal, landmass that was built up around the reservoir was removed. These two moves provide heightened access to the reservoir, and accessibility to the park’s natural terrain.

Aerial Plan

ENTRY PLAZA STUDY

SURROUNDING ENTRY & DESIGN

Alongside the Master Plan came additional site design-oriented elements within Kessler Park. These site elements include a new entry sequence, as well as a re-oriented front lawn experience. Both of these new nodes of activity in Kessler Park help to provide meaningful direction for park visitors, as well as orient nearby neighbors of the park to accessible points of entry. This combined with newly created activity nodes in the landscape surrounding the reservoir activate the park in a much more intentional and inclusive manner.

LEXINGTON AVE.

ELMA ST.

PENDLETON AVE.

View Study from Lexington Avenue

Prospect AveWabash AveOlive St

AMIE ST. ELMA ST. LEXINGTON AVE.

PENDLETON AVE. ST. JOHN AVE.

St. John

Independence Ave Lexington Ave

View Study from Wabash Avenue Section along Wabash Avenue

along Independence Avenue

ENTRY PLAZA CONCEPT

Original Topography Ground Plane

Structure Shading

ESTABLISHING A FORMAL ENTRY

Within the entry plaza, there are three zones which all address their immediate context. Both Lexington Avenue and Wabash Avenue are key to orient park visitors, so this entry plaza had the double-duty of denoting entry on two fronts, both literally and figuratively. Besides visually queuing a new park entry to just the surrounding neighborhoods, this plaza has to grab the attention of commuters with large signage. Both of these types of entry are then oriented to an inner plaza which exposes visitors to the world of Kessler Park.

Front Lawn Axonometric

Entry Plaza - Night

Entry Plaza - Day

Front Lawn Formal Path - Night

Front Lawn Informal Path - Seating canopy

FRONT LAWN

PARTI STUDY

Furthermore, nodes of activity along an informal entry path, which were derived from the natural topography in Kessler Park. This area south of the reservoir slopes to the east and offers views toward the Kansas City Museum, and has been capitalized upon to capture these views while providing interactive programming. This is vastly different from the formal pathway which serves as a separation between regional users and neighborhood users, allowing for variance of spaces that all visitors can choose from, depending on the purpose of their visit.

Front Lawn - Neighborhood Connection

To arrive at the current layout for the formal and informal paths into the reservoir, topography and local connections were the first two things to be expanded upon. Using St. John Avenue and Pendleton Avenue as points of intersection for the Front Lawn’s formal path axis, we were able to introduce two new nodes where the community would have easy access to neighborhood amenities such as playgrounds and seating areas within Kessler Park. These nodes serve as anchor points along the informal pathway, and allow visitors from the nearby neighborhoods to interact with the formal path that would primarily be used by regional visitors.

PENDLETON AVE.

ST. JOHN AVE.

SOUTH BASIN DESIGN

The south basin of the reservoir has been opened up physically to the community with the removal of the south wall. This allows for an easy and gentle transition from pathway to reservoir space, as new sight-lines along the formal and informal paths allow visitors to see directly into the south basin. This is seen as informal, ad hoc space that would allow for the neighborhood to hold events that can evolve within the space. To further facilitate this, movable canopies were designed. The users are given the ability to change the space however they see fit, whether for a family picnic or a farmers market or tailgate opportunity. The canopies are structurally designed to be pushed along a track system, and can be arranged into any configuration along a newly introduced grid upon the reservoir floor. The louvered roofs of these canopies were created to provide shade for the user, and altogether, they break down the immense space provided in the southern basin and give the human scale to a space that has historically been used for infrastructural storage. South basin canopies have been designed to house community-scaled events, where Northeast Neighborhood-based artists, merchants, and eateries can temporarily set up shop. These canopies offer extreme versatility while offering interaction points for visitors. Each individual canopy can be moved along track systems implemented in a grid formation on the reservoir’s floor. In addition to providing programmatic areas in the south basin, these canopies help to lessen the heat load absorbed by the hard concrete that makes up the majority of the reservoir’s structure.

CANOPY SHADING STUDY

PROGRAMMATIC PODS

These newly implemented canopies in the south basin’s vast open space allow the breakdown of this expansive structure. What was once intangible and much too large to hold a variety of events has been broken down into much more palatable volumes of space, which are able to transform to suit the desired use of the community members who wish to use these amenities.

South Basin Grid

Playground Location Study Playground Graffiti

In conjunction with the colors pulled from the existing graffiti, a series of grid-lines were introduced in order to scale down the vast scale of the south basin. Based on this grid, new graffiti zones have been created to allow the culture of graffiti art and tagging to continue within the reservoir. As separation from one graffiti zone to another, a series of simple play areas have been introduced to allow visitors to interact with the materiality present along the sloped walls. In these zones, the brick walls add texture and variance while allowing for public canvases that will encourage further public art endeavors.

Canopy

SOUTH BASIN CANOPIES

Color Palette Considerations

SOUTH BASIN GRAFFITI STUDY

Based upon the graffiti studied in the south basin, a series of colors were pulled from the layers of paint to determine a color palette for the programmatic elements. For the south basin canopies and surrounding stairs, ramps, and play elements, three vibrant colors were chosen that relate to the graffiti context. These colors become especially important in livening up the monochromatic hues that exist within the reservoir currently.

MIDDLE WALL & STAGE

CELEBRATING THE RESERVOIR DIVISION

To expand upon the existing structure within the reservoir, our attention was focused at created a new focal piece that addresses multiple programmatic demands in both the north and south basins, as well as within Kessler Park. Because the current middle wall in the reservoir serves as an informal cutthrough for people traveling longitudinally across the park, we understood this to mean that a well-established pathway that bisects the reservoir would contribute to the better movement of people within the park. This allows for a unique moment to observe the activities in either basin while traversing the once dangerous and rarely crossed middle wall.

Middle Wall Shading - Winter

Middle Wall Shading - Summer

IMPACT OF THE MIDDLE WALL

In addition to providing new spatial organization to the reservoir, the middle wall also adds increased shading to the north basin due to its new height. Previously, the existing middle wall was not conducive for long-term shading, especially during the summer months where the reservoir’s concrete walls and floors absorbed tremendous amounts of heat throughout the day. A taller roof line was introduced to throw a more effective shadow into the north basin during the summer months.

MIDDLE WALL CONSTRUCTION

MIDDLE WALL ADDITION

While the existing middle wall provides the separation between north and south basins, an upper addition was designed that serves more than one purpose. Louvers provide variable shading for the north basin, and a steel frame is introduced to carry a large movable screen that also acts as shading devices. Solar panels are also present to provide power for this design element and others throughout the reservoir.

LED Screen Movement

Sliding Screen Mechanism

LED Screen from inside the Middle Wall

REGIONAL VENUE ACCESSIBILITY

MILE

MILES

MILES

Distance and Bicycle Hubs

PUBLIC TRANSIT

To ensure ample access to the reservoir and Kessler Park, we also studied public transit to provide transit options to and from our new entry plaza. Currently, there are several transportation issues that are present in the Northeast Neighborhoods. Because of the lack of public transit stops near our new site entry, we are proposing a bus stop along an existing transit line that will directly tie Kessler Park to the transit systems around Kansas City, thus amplifying accessibility.

JOHN AVE

INDEPENDENCE AVE

AVE

ST

AVE.

BLVD

T TRFY

AVE

JOHN AVE BENTON BLVD

East Village Transit Center Route to Reservoir

MIDDLE WALL OCCUPANCY STUDY

People

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE OF THE MIDDLE WALL

was

to

and can

Knuckleheads Saloon

The Truman

Arvest Bank Theater At The Midland Grinders Kc Reservoir Ampitheater Starlight Theater Power & Light Azura Ampitheater T-Mobile Center Sporting Kc

700 People 1,400 People 3,000 People 3,000 People 4,344 People 7,958 People 8,000 People 18,000 People 18,972 People 25,000 People =500 People

Kansas City Venue Capacities

COMMUNITY VENUE ACCESSIBILITY

Because this amenity is so closely tied to the surrounding Northeast Neighborhoods, walk-ability was an important strategy to consider. Especially since the reservoir will need to cater to regional commuters for larger events.

STAGE RELATIONSHIPS

Stage and Middle Wall Axonometric

MULTI-SIDED STAGES

After determining stage size and occupancy, a series of stages and stage relationships were created to add flexibility to the north basin’s form. This takes shape as one main elevated stage alongside two smaller support stages. While the main stage faces one direction, these two smaller stages orient themselves so as to have spectators on two sides.

NORTH BASIN DESIGN

The north basin of the reservoir has been developed to address the larger metropolitan area of Kansas City, with an emphasis on large-scale events that orient visitors back toward their traveled path through Kessler Park, as well as allowing for the discovery of a North Pavilion experience. The ever-important axis that has been well defined throughout this scheme comes to a pronounced termination in the North Pavilion and provides a much needed emphasis for a space of this magnitude. Within the north basin, a series of flexible stages and event spaces are oriented to address different performance and programmatic needs, while a series of ramped switchbacks allow for easy access to and from the reservoir’s northern border. With the middle wall acting as an additional framing element to compliment the North Pavilion, viewers are also exposed to the large format

LED screen that will be used for sporting events, films, performances, and other large-scale gatherings. As a whole, the north basin stands united to the south basin in their public-gathering intentions.

NORTH PAVILION DESIGN

The North Pavilion was conceived to add amenities to the park that do not currently exist, and provide a permanent and powerful termination to the axis created in this scheme. Amenities include restrooms and a flex space for events, and a ramp connects the reservoir floor to the park level through a multi-story pavilion. The first floor of the pavilion is open air and contains accessible restrooms, the second floor contains an enclosed flex space, two storage areas, and a kitchenette. A flexible space has the opportunity to hold community meetings, birthday parties, galleries, and a control room for music or theatrical productions. The roof of this pavilion offers optimal views of Kansas City Museum, East Bottoms, and Kansas City, KS, as well as seating for outdoor events.

Exploded North Pavilion Axonometric

Northern Louvers

Dynamic form providing extrusion dimensions Shifts as one walks around

Channel Glass

Backdrop for south basin, creates different north and south elevation

Programmatic Boxes

Provide enclosed space for program such as bathrooms, storage and kitchenette

ADDING INDOOR SPACES TO THE RESERVOIR

Floor Plates

Primary element of pavilion Provides a horizontal form Steel structure aligns with programmatic Elements for elevation clarity

Steel Structure

From this pavilion, visitors to Kessler Park gain further perspective as to what was missing from the Parks and Boulevard system in Kansas City. By moving upward in this structure, views to the north are highlighted through variable metal louvers, which selectively orient viewers to locations and landmarks from the East Bottoms, to Kansas City, Kansas. This pavilion strategically celebrates the terminus of Kansas City’s public realm by relating the reservoir’s location to surrounding topography. Along the south border of this pavilion, visitors can partake in outdoor events via seating, public porches, and covered spaces that look directly into the stage area of the north basin. The vast scale of this space also has the capacity to handle extremely large-scale events such as watch-parties for sporting events, while providing adequate facilities such as restrooms and possible opportunities for cafes, gift shops, and other revenue generators.

NORTH PAVILION DESIGN

North Pavilion -

North Pavilion - Fireworks Display

PROJECT PHASING

While the scheme is a powerful indicator of the potential of Kessler Park, it can be difficult to gain funding to create such a redevelopment. Therefore, careful attention was brought to the phasing of the scheme so the public can be more cognizant of the project, thus pushing it closer to reality through gradual predetermined phases. The first phase allows for the reservoir to be opened to the park, followed by the passage being created out of the middle dividing wall. The next phase oversees the installation of the amphitheater, entry plaza, and canopies. This would allow for the evaluation of the scheme as a whole, with events being able to be hosted with their own equipment. Once proven successful and beneficial to the neighborhood, the pavilion and middle wall would provide innovative and powerful facilities for performances and the park. The final introduction of daily activities with the established informal path would solidify the scheme as a neighborhood and regional amenity.

Phase 1

Flatten topography to south Cut into middle wall

Phase 2

Build entry plaza

Flatten topography for main path

Complete ground of reservoir Install canopies Build stage Build amphitheater

Remove south wall of the reservoir

Phase 3

Build north pavilion

Build middle wall element

Phase 4

Build front lawn play scapes

Build microclimate Complete paths around reservoir

CONCLUSION

TESTIMONIALS

Kansas City Design Center provided an incredibly empowering and uniting experience with the Kessler Park Water Reservoir Visioning Study. They brought together many passionate stakeholders and validated ideas equally amongst groups — even the voices of toddlers I frequently brought along to the design charrettes. The dinosaur sculpture, scale models of Pendleton Heights, and snacks were favorites in the 3-4-year-old demographic.

It was incredibly refreshing to watch a community drive design, and address needs and dreams for a communal space. The KCDC students listened, but also walked in the shoes of residents, experiencing the park as if they were neighborhood residents. I was particularly impressed with their design response to how to bring people in via multiple modes of transportation. A pavilion in Kessler Park that serves as a bus stop, bike-share stand, and more creates a neighbor-centric parking area that safely flows traffic to the Reservoir past an elementary school. These features not only solve ongoing issues for our community but also make a large-scale transformation of the reservoir viable.

The momentum KCDC has created with this study will definitely have a lasting impact on the Historic Northeast community. Residents now, more than ever, want and expect more for a city park and see value in community-led development.

The history of Kessler Park is important to the overall history of Kansas City, and particularly its Parks & Recreation Department. Named for the architect of the City’s Park System, George Kessler, the design and work performed by the students of the Kansas City Design Center provide an opportunity to breathe new life into the park and its great assets. Through this visioning I hope it stimulates further thought and investment in an area with over 125 years of history, but still has so much to give to the people of Kansas City.

Whitney Barnardo, Pendelton Heights Community Member

Scott Wagner, Commissioner, Kansas City Parks & Recreation Department:

CONCLUSION

This study of the Kessler Park reservoir has become not only a study of design and reuse, but a community project and ode to the historic value and architectural richness of Kansas City. The importance of Kessler park and the parks system throughout the city is a feat to be celebrated and maintained for generations.

In working with community members and researching the park, it became evident how valued the hidden green spaces of the city have become to neighborhood residents in today’s world. As such , each park deserves to be designed in a way which best accommodates the needs of local residents and paves the way to generate well-designed community space. The studio seeks to address this need through a design study, represented by three unique solutions that all accomplish the same goal -- to reintegrate and redefine the Kessler Park reservoir into the community. While this project remains a conceptual blueprint embarked upon for the betterment of the Northeast Neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri, we see this Vision Study as a viable and worthwhile addition to the urban fabric of Kansas City. This project has focused on a design which takes into account the voices of the community and seeks to meet neighborhood needs in subtle, but functional ways.

To better implement this study as praxis, this vision study has revolved around the idea that the proposed new designs could be constructed in phases, which can help inform public representatives as to where funds should be allocated and when. With the help of public officials, city workers, and neighborhood representatives, it is anticipated that this book will provide a deeper understanding of the park for citizens who wish to take this project further by allowing them to do so as well-informed supporters and developers.

We hope this study will help pave the way for citywide inclusivity among the neighborhoods surrounding Kessler Park. This book serves as a concise framework which has been laid for Kansas City’s population as to what can become of Kessler Park and its reservoir. The studio anticipates the use of this framework will result in the creation of public spaces that are inspiring, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive. For every community member, city council representative, business owner, and opinion-holder who helped the Kansas City Design Center develop this framework, we thank you and appreciate your input during this vision study.