Site work and new construction of a multi-residential development in Kansas City, Missouri. Completed plans call for the construction of a multi-residential development; and for site work for a multi-residential development.

https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2024/11/26/landscape-architects-kansas-city-nspj-terracon.html Many things you take for granted or may not notice — public parks, rooftop gardens, apartment pools, even the pavement you walk on — probably resulted from thoughtful design choices by landscape architects. “The landscape is ultimately the fabric that stitches everything together, and I think that often gets overlooked,” said Derek Hoetmer, founder and principal of Kansas City-based landscape architecture firm MCLV. Although many people may not think about it, these landscape architects are instrumental to seamlessly embedding developments into communities and creating long-term and environmentally friendly projects. The profession has been gaining more attention in recent years, thanks partly to the pandemic. As people isolated and spent more time at home, being outdoors became one of the only safe activities. Individuals invested more in renovating their backyards and homes. Cities, counties and neighborhoods saw greater demand to build parks, trails and public spaces, said David Harris, principal of landscape architecture and planning at Terracon. “We are seeing a growth in demand regionally,” Hoetmer said. “It's now transitioning from the coasts to Kansas City to be an expectation of: What does it mean when I step outside of my building? What's the curb appeal? What's that experience like?” Vitagraph Building green roofexpand The Vitagraph Building's garage in the Crossroads Arts District offers an example of a green roof. Lee's Summit-based Land3 Studio designed the rooftop. Land3 Studio website Green landscapes More landscape architects are seeing a shift in demand for greenery, stemming partly from advancements in the planting procurement industry. Many projects prioritize sustainability by integrating native plants and adaptive, or low-maintenance, plants into their designs, Hoetmer said. For some projects, clients demand sustainable tall grasses or prairie meadows that get mowed only once a year in place of large expanses of lawn. Other recent sustainability trends are as simple as integrating artistic birdhouses into designs as a way to enhance local wildlife, Hoetmer said. “For a long time, if you went to a nursery, it was what Martha Stewart was planting in her garden,” he said. “But now it's much more about sustainability.” At Terracon, green roofs layered atop roofs also have become a bigger focus for clients, Harris said. They help keep roofs waterproofed and often require little maintenance. These roofs can range from a layer of lightweight soil with native grass and plants to full-blown gardens with trees and outdoor patios. Shifting to sustainability Climate change has drawn more attention to and spurred changes in the profession, Harris said. Landscape architects are shifting some design methods and swapping construction materials, such as concrete, for ones that are more sustainable, affordable and resistant to various weather conditions. That includes permeable materials, such as clay bricks for sidewalks and bamboo wood for outdoor decks. “Concrete seems to be one of the most destructive construction materials because it takes a lot of energy to place and produce,” Harris said. “We're exploring other forms of building materials that are more local and contact sensitive to the area. That’s a big change to the profession.” The shift away from concrete becomes especially important for cities that experience flooding. Landscape architects have been exploring creating “sponge cities,” projects that use permeable paving and plant systems to collect reusable rainfall and mitigate flooding. Katie Martinovic NSPJ Architectsexpand Katie Martinovic is vice president and principal landscape architect at NSPJ Architects, based in Prairie Village. Shane & Alli Photography Connecting communities Whether Katie Martinovic is working on someone’s backyard or a community green space, every project is focused on creating environments that contribute to the larger community, she said. Martinovic is the vice president and principal landscape architect at Prairie Village-based NSPJ Architects. When designing CORE Apartments in Kansas City, Martinovic focused on encapsulating a “live, work, play” mantra in her design, which included a resort-style pool and walking paths that connected residents to Berkley Riverfront Park. Swope Health Villageexpand A playground and outdoor basketball court are proposed as part of the Swope Health Village campus. Perkins Eastman and Bobak Studio Designing for communities also requires thinking about accessibility, Hoetmer said. His team at MCLV is designing Swope Health Village, a community-oriented hub that will include affordable senior housing, behavioral health services and community amenities. Landscape architecture components will include a park, walking loop and playgrounds. MLCV’s design focuses on making all these features accessible to the disabled, which also can aid in Swope Health patients’ recovery. That comes down to carefully selecting the texture of paving and to leveraging landscape strategies found in therapy gardens, such as incorporating plants that change throughout the seasons. “It's easy to create a place that is open and flexible, and maybe it has trees,” Hoetmer said. “But it doesn't mean people are going to love it. Why do people end up loving a place? It brings beauty to their lives. It brings function to their lives.” ------------------------ Core Phase II Apartments in Kansas City, MO New 153-unit apartment building located at 601 Berkley Parkway in the Berkley Riverfront area in partnership with PortKC. Please reach out to Brian Benjamin with North Point Development at bbenjamin@northpointkc.com. Any general questions should be submitted to Brian Benjamin at bbenjamin@northpointkc.com before Thursday, August 8th, 2024 at 5:00 PM Central Daylight Time.