Entry Plaza & Parking Structure

The main entry plaza for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art creates a beautiful and functional arrival experience for visitors, shaped by art and architecture. The entry plaza features a reflecting pool and installation entitled “One Sun/34 Moons” by Walter De Maria, which is situated above a 450-car below-grade parking structure. Focused on drawing connections to the museum’s entry plaza above and creating a cohesive arrival experience, a specially formed ‘wave tee’ ceiling made of precast and cast-in-place concrete lets filtered light down into the parking garage via 34 lenses from the reflecting pool above. The parking structure further enhances visitors’ experiences through seamless connections between arrival and the museum entry with access the north plaza and the Bloch Building addition. The vehicular paving areas integrate a hydronic snow-melt system, eliminating concerns with damage from the freeze-thaw cycle or ice melting chemicals harmful to cementitious materials.

Collaboration with Steven Holl Architects.