Christian Life Center
Information
- Location Kansas City, Missouri
- Size 35,840 SF
- Completion 2009
- Services Architecture
- Project Type Community (private), Residential
The newest facility at City Union Mission is dedicated to renewing the lives of homeless men by breaking the cycle of homelessness through support, education, recovery and addiction programs. The facility houses the Christian Life Program, a one-year curriculum that prepares students for re-entry into the community. The center supports the Mission’s belief that each person deserves to be surrounded by a healthy, well-designed environment that helps them establish a new direction for their lives. The project is also participating in a stormwater grant from the USGBC that will help establish best practices for stormwater management.
The Christian Life Center strives to be regenerative, with both people’s lives and the design strategies that support the mission and community. The bright and open spaces provide views and promote healing, community building and education. The building reuses gray water and uses energy efficient light fixtures, daylighting and ground source heat pumps to conserve financial resources for this non-profit.
Impact + Innovation
Recycled materials, such as the cedar wood siding, are used as a metaphor for repurposing the lives of these men who will live and find new purpose at the center. Other finish materials are juxtaposed, such as masonry that is used outside and reflected on the inside, to suggest the notion of “turning one’s life around.”
The facility was developed around a secure courtyard that connects the interior and exterior throughout. The site design incorporates a variety of sustainable features and is a showcase for urban stormwater management. The small site includes three vegetated infiltration basins that accept all of the roof run-off from the building with no connection to the City’s storm sewer system. Indigenous plant materials that require low-maintenance were integrated throughout the site.
People
Team
- Sarah Hirsch
- Paul Johnson
- Devan Case
- Clint Blew
- Brad Clark
- Ben Allers
- Christina Assmann
- Amy Hattery
- Bryce Lawrence
Client
City Union Mission
Awards
AIA Kansas City
Merit Award
2010
Kansas City Business Journal
Capstone Award – Community Impact
2009
AIA Kansas
Honor Award
2009
AIA Central States Region
Merit Award
2008