2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 87

In addition to being a public trailway, the bridge houses a two-level structure, designed to enhance the visitor experience.
network of trails and parks, transforming
how residents engage with their urban
environment. In May 2023, the project
was selected to join the High Line Network,
a group recognizing infrastructure
reuse projects dubbed the " next generation
of public spaces. " These spaces
aim to uplift communities by fostering
vibrant gathering places, environmental
resilience, equitable development, and
economic growth.
Industrial aesthetic
The new design leans into a contemporary
industrial aesthetic while preserving
the monumental scale and experience
of inhabiting the original truss structure.
With structural engineering services
provided by Thornton Tomasetti, construction
made maximum use of existing
materials and was finally completed
using 386 tons of steel and 692 tons
of concrete to effectively create a new
real estate with broad cantilevers and an
added second level.
As a trailhead for the Missouri and
Kansas trail systems, the bridge invites
foot traffic, bicyclists, and joggers. In
addition to being a public trailway,
it houses a multifunctional structure
spanning two levels, each designed to
enhance visitors' experience. On the first
floor, 14-foot cantilevers extend on either
side, creating expansive spaces for vendors
while allowing easy passthrough for
those hiking the trail.
These overhangs host a variety of
entertainment zones-including cafes,
a bar, and dining areas-offering panoramic
views of the river and the city
skyline. Its programs foster an interplay
between leisure and movement, allowing
visitors to step off the trail, enjoy
a refreshing drink, and immerse themselves
in the scenery.
The second floor is a dedicated event
venue strategically set apart and above
the regular public traffic flow. This area
features a vast event space complemented
by an additional bar and is highlighted
by a 35-foot atrium made from
translucent polycarbonate. Natural light
permeates the space and frames views
of the bridge's original trusses and structural
details, blending historical architecture
with modern design.
Adjacent to this event space, community
zones on either side of the bridge
offer retail opportunities for local farmers'
markets, small businesses, and nonprofits.
These areas are vital in fostering
community cohesion and integrating the
levee trails with the waterfront, enhancing
the bridge's utility and allure as a
central gathering point.
The confluence of the Missouri and
Kansas rivers was the birthplace of
Kansas City. Bridging those rivers established
Kansas City as a commercial port
for expansion, but the industry, railroads,
and levees associated with the development
of our rivers cut us off from our
waterfronts. Now, the reinvented bridge
promises to reconnect us in many ways,
providing a brighter future for our two
Kansas Cities. UL
DENNIS STRAIT is a principal at national design firm
Multistudio.
SUMMER 202 4
URBAN LAND
87
INDUSTRY VOICES
MULTISTUDIO
2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land

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