Sunset Hill Residence
The latest installment in one of our longest-running, phased projects has recently wrapped up in fine fashion. The setting for this historic, Mary Rockwell Hook designed home is the Sunset Hills neighborhood, offering striking views to the Brush Creek Valley below and the Plaza beyond. Hook was a pioneer for women in Architecture in the early 20th Century and completed most of her work in the Kansas City area. Ms. Hook’s design is influenced by buildings she saw during her extensive travels and studies in Europe and East Asia, characterized by prominent stone facades, terra cotta tiled roof lines, and leaded pane windows. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Mary Rockwell Hook and the original home from its National Register of Historic Places application.
We first embarked on the restoration of this home in 2012 with a complete interior renovation, extensive infrastructure updates, and the addition of a new garage with walkout apartment space below.
In 2017, the owners acquired an adjacent lot, and we went to work designing three additions to the old footprint: a 700 square foot first floor addition, an expansive screened-in backyard pavilion, and a two car garage with room for a workshop. The three new spaces are joined to each other and the original home with over 1200 square feet of added stone patio, complete with an outdoor kitchen, dining space, and multiple entertaining zones that range from small and intimate to those that can accommodate large groups.
Phase 2’s first floor addition is anchored by a new dining room, highlighted by a plaster, barrel vaulted ceiling and double-sided Rumford fireplace. A glazed corner maintains the connection between interior and exterior space. This room is served by a new mudroom and butler’s pantry, designed with hosting parties and the family’s beloved dogs in mind.
Stepping outside the steel doors from the dining room, you encounter the covered colonnade leading to the timber-framed backyard pavilion. The structure is made entirely from custom-milled, locally sourced white oak. A crafted louver system screens views and adds privacy to the dining and entertaining space — making it the perfect spot for dining al fresco and Kansas City sunset viewing.
These first floor additions are set off by carefully matched stonework and handsome steel windows and doors, while new exterior plaster work blends seamlessly with the old. A small, second story addition makes room for an expanded closet and dry sauna.
Professional photography by Bob Greenspan.
While we’ve enjoyed the on-going collaboration with creative clients, it’s satisfying to see the effort come to conclusion in such an impressive, functional way in keeping with the historic nature of the original home. We trust that our work here — executed by Chris Lynch and the top-notch crew at Hurst Construction — would meet with Mary Rockwell Hook’s approval. As the saying goes, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, it’s the handing on of the fire.”
Lake View House
Construction is wrapping up on the Lake View House just in time for the summer season. The home is located on a rare double lot on deep water at the Lake of the Ozarks and serves as a seasonal retreat for a family of four with two young children.
The prime location faces south with views toward the main channel, prompting the family to request a simple floor plan that focuses on the connection to the water and expansive vistas.
We proposed a plan that occupies the site in the most efficient manner, building only on the ‘open’ (non-treed) portion of lot and taking advantage of existing driveway grading. The approach from the back of the house reveals a modest, low slung, L-shaped form that drops down with a dramatic sloping roof line to large expanses of glass on the lake side.
The four bedroom home boasts a game room, double height living and dining space, and a bunk room on the main, lower level. The garage, remaining three bedrooms, and private living space are situated on the upper level.
In a departure from typical lake houses on sloped lots, the owners did not want to walk out of the the primary living areas onto a raised deck. Their priority was a direct connection to the water, so the home is recessed into the hillside with the lower lakeside living spaces enclosed by giant sliding glass doors which fully open up the southeast corner to a patio just feet from the waters edge.
A sleek, understated interior does not detract from the lake views beyond, with large exposed glulam beams in living room and an impressive natural stone fireplace at the ‘knuckle’ of the house — linking the kitchen, living, and dining rooms.
The Lake View House should be completed very soon, and we have a feeling the owners will be all moved in and taking advantage of their new digs the minute it is ready for them.
OPEN HOUSE
We’ve learned through decades of experience that construction projects have a tendency stretch on and on with no end in sight, and our own office renovation is no exception to this rule. We also know that the best way to get a job wrapped up for good is to schedule a party. So we set a date for the beginning of October, and after consecutive busy weekends of DIY office improvements and finishing touches, the crew here at MSA was ready to show off all of our hard work and officially open the doors to our new location at 11 E. Gregory in Waldo.
We’ve come a long way since purchasing the building in 2016. See more of our progress leading up to the big Open House here.
Special thanks goes out to our expert painter, Sonja Shaffer, for ensuring that our new, brightly colored doors have complementary hues and are free of roller strokes; and to Chuck and Lisa Schmitz for loaning us all of the implements necessary for hosting a bona fide party. Brookside Wine and Spirits kept us all hydrated with two 1/6th barrels of local brews (which we proudly finished), and our neighbors Waldo Pizza and The Classic Cookie provided hundreds of slices and dozens of desserts — all of which were devoured.
We also want to thank Susan White, Bev McMurray of Mercer Zimmerman, the Innovest Team, and our bankers at MOBank for adorning our conference table and desks with thoughtful flower arrangements worthy of our highly anticipated reveal. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t give a shout out to our friends at Lucky Elixir Kombucha for giving our non-drinkers a tasty, effervescent alternative to beer.
MSA is incredibly lucky to have such supportive and enjoyable clients and consultants to celebrate this accomplishment with. We are already looking forward to the next excuse to string up some lights and get Brandon’s party playlist rolling again.
Busy Days at MSA
It has been a busy, productive scene around MSA since our purchase, in the Fall of 2016, of a building at 11 E. Gregory Boulevard. We enjoyed the opportunity to strap on our tool belts (and get some good exercise) in the interest of tackling the lion’s share of the gutting, design and reconstruction of our new office space on the ground floor. After years of operating from the third floor penthouse of the Brookside Plaza Building, we’re pleased to be down at street level in the lively Waldo neighborhood.
The brightest MSA news of recent times is the addition of two talented, creative individuals to the MSA staff. In March of 2017, Brandon Froelich joined the team. Due to his well-rounded skill set, Brandon was able to take the helm immediately on a considerable project load, which included the studios project in Fairway, a substantial renovation project at the Mary Rockwell Hook home on Sunset Hill, and the design of a new Mission Hills home. Brandon has also been leading MSA’s undertaking, on behalf of the worthy KC organization, BoysGrow, to design a new, energy-efficient, multipurpose building for their campus.
In early 2018, MSA welcomed Kara Schippers, who has assumed responsibility for design, working drawing production, and construction coordination on a variety of projects. Kara has also brought her communications skills and refined graphic eye to spearheading the MSA marketing effort, beginning with a thorough revamping of our website.
From the earliest days of our practice, MSA has enjoyed opportunities to work on both commercial and residential projects. On the commercial front, we’ve been please to contribute to the urban revitalization currently taking place along 63rd St. with the design and construction of Flying Horse Taproom. It’s also been satisfying to be instrumental in repurposing the abandoned, monumental Armco Steel structures located along the Blue River for new industrial production by Custom Truck One Source. A project in Leavenworth, KS, Young Sign Company, has taken Brandon Froelich back to his hometown roots as he helps the business expand into the second floor of their early 1900s downtown building.
Residential work remains a source of concentration for us, and we’re currently deep into the new construction and renovation of numerous projects. Without exception, we remain committed to design solutions that are aesthetically pleasing, functionally appropriate, cost effective, and environmentally responsible for all of our projects.
And last, but certainly not least, we truly value the collaborative interaction with all of our clients, consultants, craftspersons, and builders. We continue to be honored and humbled by the trust placed in us by those who bring their projects and ideas to MSA.
Boysgrow
MSA has been honored to collaborate with BoysGrow on the design of their new Farm Kitchen Facility, which will be a multipurpose building located on their agricultural site. The design includes a full commercial kitchen as well as spaces for offices, educational programs, public gatherings, and the handling of produce.
BoysGrow was founded in 2010 to serve Kansas City area urban youth through training in agricultural and culinary entrepreneurship. The organization’s goal is to empower youth through hands-on learning experiences and vocational training, giving them access to healthy food, a strong work ethic, positive mentoring, and a paycheck.
It has been a great opportunity to team up with Prairie Design Build throughout the process of applying the latest in building science to sustainable design. As a result, the new Farm Kitchen Facility will qualify for certification under the rigorous Passive House Program requiring the highest level of energy efficiency. The generous south sloping pitch of the structure’s roof will have photovoltaic (solar) panels capable of meeting a large measure of the BoysGrow energy requirements.
Tickets are still available for Farm Fest, the final fundraising event for BoysGrow in 2018. Hosted by chef Lidia Bastianich, the event features kid-friendly entertainment and food and drinks from 10 local restaurants including Lidia's KC, Westside Local, Paradise Lockers, Third Street Social, and Crane Brewery. This year's Farm Festival takes place Sunday, September 23 from 12-4PM. Purchase tickets here.
Custom Truck One Source: North building project
Since 2014, MSA has been proud to provide architectural services on major projects for Custom Truck One Source, a homegrown Kansas City company with a strong commitment to the revitalization of the blighted industrial area that once was the domain of Armco Steel.
Our first project involved working with a monumental, existing steel structure to create over 50,000 sq. ft. of production and office space. The second project, currently in its final stages of construction, exceeds 100,000 sq. ft. of space housed under the original Armco frame.
It’s a rewarding experience to see an area that had been a neglected, industrial wasteland returned to full productivity, creating many jobs for skilled employees.
Onward into 2017
11 E Gregory Blvd
2017 promises to be an eventful year for MSA. After nearly 20 years at the Brookside Plaza location, we’re relocating our office to a commercial building that we purchased at 11 E. Gregory Blvd. in Kansas City’s Waldo district. The move allows us to be on the ground floor in a light-filled studio with room for future expansion. The two-story building was built in 1960 and is a fine example of straightforward mid-20th century design. It has been fun for us to strap on the tool belts and get into the construction ourselves. It reinforces our admiration and respect for the committed builders and craftspersons who work so hard to realize the designs on our projects.
2017 also arrives with us busy on a broad array of projects with a healthy balance of both residential and commercial work. Soon to be under construction is a new establishment for Brookside Pizza that expands Brookside Wine & Spirits at 600 E. 63rd St. And our residential work includes significant renovation projects, several new residences, and a major realization of a contemporary design for a residence in one of Kansas City’s historic urban high-rise towers.
As always, our commitment to sustainable design remains strong, and we look forward to meeting the challenges of the times ahead with a strong sense of purpose and optimism for the future.
Model View - New MSA Office
Window Installation at New MSA Office
Model View - Brookside Pizza (starting construction Spring 2017)
Model View - Brookside Pizza
Rear Model View - New Leawood Residence
Front Model View - New Leawood Residence
West Elevation - New Leawood Residence
Model Section - 10th & 11th Floors of High-Rise Residence
Happy New Year from MSA
The past year has been eventful for MSA as we’ve seen several large projects come to successful completion on both the residential and commercial fronts. Our Mission Drive house represents a creative collaboration with a great Kansas City family and a seasoned builder, Andy Fritzel of Gene Fritzel Construction. Our efforts on behalf of the dynamic homegrown company Custom Truck & Equipment have allowed us to participate in a major recycling effort by bringing abandoned structures from Armco Steel back into productive use. It has been a great pleasure to work on this project with one of Kansas City’s premier builders, Joe Huber of A.L. Huber General Contractors.
As we move forward into the New Year, we’ve got a number of projects under construction and exciting work in various stages of the design process. We’ll be updating our website regularly, so please check in with us for updates on our progress.
Finally, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our stalwart clients who put their trust in our abilities, and we send our best wishes to all past, present, and future MSA collaborators.
CTE Exterior View - Before
CTE Interior View - Before
CTE Exterior View - After
CTE Interior View - After
Sunset Hills Renovation and Workshop/ Studio
Proposed workshop/ studio next to the existing house.
Design work is currently under way for a major renovation of a in Sunset Hills home which replaces the existing garage with a new workshop/ studio.
The house was originally built in the 1920's and was one of the first houses on the block and sat alone on an expansive lot. Our clients are an enterprising couple who both pursue artistic endeavors. The challenge of this project is respecting the original home and complementing it with something new.
Images of the existing house:
Greetings from MSA
We're pleased to highlight the ongoing work of McHenry Shaffer Architecture. 2015 represents the 20th year of our practice, and we want to express our sincere gratitude to the many great clients and builders with whom we've enjoyed successful collaborations.
The diversity of our work has always been a large part of what has made for a satisfying practice, and our current projects have as much variety as we've ever seen. With the improved economy, we've been busy on many fronts and here's a sampling of several current projects that showcase our range.
On the commercial side, design work is completed and construction commencing on a remarkable effort that takes massive structures from the glory days of Armco Steel and re-purposes them as production facilities for a homegrown Kansas City company, Custom Truck & Equipment. It's great to be part of such a forward-looking endeavor, which will create many new jobs for skilled workers. It has taken a lot of work to get the project going, and we'll continue to share photos as construction moves forward.
On the residential side, the Mission Drive residence in Mission Hills, Kansas, is now on the home stretch towards a finish date in early autumn. It is a project that has allowed us to work within a traditional vocabulary with some of the finest artisans imaginable.
And we're pleased to have been selected by an avid patron of the arts to design a contemporary environment for living and art display in one of Kansas City's great residential high-rise structures. This project is moving along through the design process, and we're enjoying the opportunity to explore a minimalist aesthetic.