Board of Public Utilities

BNIM led the design of the Board of Public Utilities Office Building (BPU) for Kansas City, Kansas. The building is comprised of administrative offices, a public lobby for customer service functions and boardroom space for the organization’s monthly meetings. This building is a balance of public and private spaces that are functional and appealing to all users. The lobby provides a public space and teller area for residents paying utility bills, while upper floors provide a more private, secure office area for employees.

The BPU facility features environmental practices that enhance productivity, employee satisfaction, health and retention, while benefiting all building users and visitors — all of which were new benchmarks in sustainable design for middle-range budget corporate offices. A displacement air system, delivered via access floor, enables office users to control temperatures within their own work areas and at the same time reduce energy expenses.

BPU occupies the main street in a once vibrant downtown that had fallen into disrepair; the design of the BPU facility serves as an impetus for urban renewal in the downtown area and provides a new context for buildings that will fill in the urban fabric over the coming years. BNIM was involved with many projects along this corridor, including the Jack Reardon Civic Center, the BPU office building, a 148-room Hilton Garden Hotel, and a 486-car parking garage that serves the facilities.