Reimagined Barney Allis Plaza Construction Underway
By Ann Holliday, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Downtown Council of Kansas City
A reimagined Barney Allis Plaza is taking shape in the heart of downtown Kansas City! Following a summer 2024 groundbreaking with Mayor Quinton Lucas and city officials, demolition and construction are well underway, with major changes already visible. The Barney Allis Plaza Redevelopment Project is led by the City of Kansas City in collaboration with McCownGordon Construction, LM2 Construction, HOK Architecture, and other vital contractors.
McCownGordon construction crews have removed pergolas, existing structures and surface vegetation, as well as concrete and other support materials from the plaza’s base, totaling approximately 8,200 tons of materials to date which have been recycled or reused.
With surface demolition nearing completion, crews have shifted gears to work in the below-ground garage level. Current construction includes installation of tie-back systems to provide structural support for the walls and adjacent roadways. Next, crews will begin demolition of the existing garage, working from south to north. While most of this work is taking place out of sight underground, in early 2025, work will be visible from street level.
Traffic Control Plan
The traffic control plan is scheduled to be in place around the perimeter of Barney Allis Plaza, which includes installation of traffic control signage and barriers. There are several construction projects underway in this part of downtown, and work happening outside of this area is not part of the Barney Allis Plaza project. The following impacts are in place for the duration of the project:
Traffic Impacts
- A temporary barrier around the perimeter of Barney Allis consisting of concrete jersey barriers with plywood on top.
- Maintaining two lanes of traffic on 13th & Central Streets.
- Maintaining one lane of traffic on 12th Street, due to the existing garage extending into the street underground.
- Narrow lanes on Wyandotte Street, but maintaining one lane in each direction.
Pedestrian Impacts
- All four sidewalks closed on the Barney Allis side of the street.
- Pedestrian traffic directed to follow detours to the opposite side of the street.
Future Vision
The plaza’s original surface was built on top of the parking garage, up a flight of stairs above the surrounding sidewalk and streets. When completed, the entire reconstructed green space will be street level and the park will be more accessible from all sides and every corner. From small gatherings to community-wide events, it will feature a variety of event spaces, an oval lawn, a dog park, a play space, a pavilion, and more, creating a massive draw for convention business and tourism sectors.
Art
Public art, with the unique ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, is one of the vital components of the redevelopment of the Plaza at Barney Allis. The project will participate in the City’s “One Percent for Art” program administered by the City’s public art administrator and the Municipal Arts Commission. Stay tuned for more information about the art process in early 2025!
History
The plaza and garage underneath were built in the mid-1950s to provide parking for the nearby Municipal Auditorium. Following the death of hotelier and downtown champion Barney Allis in 1962, the plaza was renamed in his honor. Though it was redesigned in 1985, concerns about the structural integrity of the garage arose as early as 2017, and by early 2021 significant portions of the parking areas were deemed unsafe and closed. The original garage closed for good in early 2024 in preparation for renovation.
When completed in 2026, this world-class designation will offer visitors a critical first impression of downtown and will showcase the best of Kansas City with a must-see venue for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
Stay Connected!
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Images provided by HOK.
