The relocation of the Kansas City Ballet to the new Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity involved the preservation and adaptive reuse of the former Power House at Union Station. The building was originally designed by architect Jarvis Hunt and was constructed from 1913-1914, representing an important era in Kansas City history.

The challenge of creating an organized program diagram within an existing historical building was welcomed by BNIM and resulted in creatively reusing existing structure and interior elements in new applications. Six studios and a performance theater that seats 180 are large components of the program. The Ballet’s new home also houses administrative offices, wardrobe, costumes and production areas. more

Click here to view POWER: The Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity

Kansas City, MO
65,000 square feet
Completion: August 2011

There is a strong parallel between the two dynamically different uses of the historic building. The original use for the building was the generation of steam and electricity from burning coal that powered Union Station, the surrounding rail yards and buildings. The Kansas City Ballet has moved in and will create the next generation of dancers through artistic energy and hard work of individuals that benefits the Kansas City community.

2013 Gold Award (Renovation & Restoration) and Best of Show, Mid-America Design Awards, IIDA
2013 Architizer A+ Award Finalist
2013 National AIA Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture
2013 Preserve Missouri Award, Missouri Preservation
2012 AIA Kansas Honor Award
2012 National Preservation Honor Award, National Trust for Historic Preservation
2012 AIA Kansas City Honor Award
2012 Project of the Year, International Concrete Restoration Institute
2012 Sustainability Award, International Concrete Restoration Institute
2012 Best Renovation/Restoration Project, Award of Merit, ENR Midwest Best Projects
2012 Historic Renovation, KC Magazine Design Excellence Awards
2012 Capstone Award, Architectural Design, Kansas City Business Journal
2012 Cornerstone Award, Arts, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City
2011 Excellence Award for Adaptive Reuse, Historic Kansas City Foundation
2011 Preservation Award, AIA Kansas City
2011 Project of the Year, International Concrete Repair Institute - Great Plains Chapter
2011 Historic Restoration, International Concrete Repair Institute - Great Plains Chapter

National Historic Preservation Trust Video

"It is truly an excellent dance building. I'm lucky enough to travel all over the world and see facilities everywhere and I cannot think of one in the world that is more beautiful than this building."
- Michael Kaiser, President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts