Leawood Speculative Office

Design excellence for a typology that rarely sees it

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A developer wanted to design a speculative office building in Johnson County, Kansas to attract high-tech companies. Standing in stark contrast to the beige, small-windowed, mansard-roofed professional buildings that are the norm in this part of suburban Kansas City, the 18,000 square-foot, two-story office building features an all glass enclosure with a carefully positioned exterior perforated metal scrim system that helps regulate heat gain throughout the year. To the south, panels run parallel to the windows, removed at strategic locations (hallways, doorways) to open views across the entire floor. To the east and west, panels take the form of angled vertical louvers, their spacing varied according to shading needs of the rooms inside. The north is mostly open. The façade also facilitates a visual connection to a lush exterior landscaping package. This makes for an improved work environment and, as studies have shown, greater alacrity and higher productivity among office workers.
  • 2013
  • Architect
  • Leawood, KS
  • 18,240 SF

Client

  • The Palo Verde Group / iModules

Eldo Team

  • Doug Stockman
  • John Reeves
  • Gavin Snyder

Collaborators

  • Structural/Civil Engineer: Wallace Engineering
  • MEP Engineer: PKMR
  • Landscape Architect: Groundworks

Awards

  • 2015 AIA Central States Region Design Awards - Honor Award
  • 2015 AIA Kansas City Design Excellence Awards - Honor Award

Press

Photography

  • Mike Sinclair

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