Our Kansas City PBS project won Project of the Year $5-10 Million in the Building Excellence Awards! Thank you to El Dorado, Inc, and the whole project team for making this project a success.
About the Project of the Year:
Kansas City PBS launched the Picture This capital campaign, a seven-year fundraising initiative focused on modernizing the building and technology and growing the people and products to better serve their listeners. The campaign’s results were a renovation and new addition project that included renovating their historic headquarters in midtown Kansas City. The renovation included two new community spaces: the Sandra A.J. Lawrence Plaza, an outdoor event space that connects to the Francis Family Foundation Living Room, an indoor event space.
The existing facilities comprised five buildings connected by a warren of non-accessible corridors. After a rigorous programming analysis, it was determined that one of the buildings was to be demolished to make room for a new connector. The new structure includes an elevator and custom feature stairway that provides ADA-compliant, generous circulation paths to the remaining buildings. An exterior private courtyard was inserted behind the new structure, connecting all creative departments. The ground level of the first building is dedicated to public hospitality, including a large kitchen and bar for hosting events. The south end of the building was gutted to create a double-height volume of space for a living room that provides a unique workspace for KCPBS staff, public film viewings, and live music performances. The third building was renovated to reveal an extensive interior volume, topped with existing bowstring trusses, resulting in a dynamic space for the various creative departments.
What safety challenges did we face?
The project faced significant job site safety challenges, particularly due to its location in a bustling midtown area. Managing the flow of traffic amidst the busy thoroughfare was a primary concern, necessitating measures to redirect and separate traffic to ensure the safety of both construction personnel and the public.
Given the busy walkways surrounding the project site, pedestrian safety was also a top priority. Proactive steps were taken to redirect and separate pedestrian traffic using designated walkways and barriers to mitigate potential accidents or hazards.
Ensuring jobsite security was paramount, especially on an occupied campus. Comprehensive security measures, including jobsite enclosures, barriers, warning signs, and security systems, were implemented to safeguard the construction site and protect personnel and property from risks posed by homelessness and night-time intrusions.
Coordinating construction activities while minimizing disruption to the operational television station within the site required careful planning and execution. Close collaboration with KCPBS allowed for the redirection of access and control of entrances, walkways, and parking, particularly during off-hours working periods when the occupied areas were less active.
Moreover, the project’s historic renovations presented additional safety challenges, particularly concerning the preservation of sensitive filming studio equipment. Special precautions, such as constructing temporary walls and sealing them to minimize dust exposure, were implemented to protect the equipment and prevent potential damage. Despite these challenges, the team’s unwavering commitment to safety yielded exemplary performance statistics, with 0 loss-day accidents, 0 injuries, and 0 near misses reported on the KCPBS Project. These statistics reflect the dedication to upholding the highest safety standards and ensuring the well-being of all individuals involved in the project.
The biggest thank you to KCPBS on being a wonderful client to work with!
Let us know if you have an upcoming construction or renovation project.