KCBJ 2025 Capstone Awards recognize three BNIM projects creating positive impact in the Kansas City community
Three BNIM projects have been recognized with 2025 Capstone Awards by the Kansas City Business Journal (KCBJ). The Capstone Awards honor the top real estate and development projects across the Kansas City area and consider aspects including project challenges and community impact. The Zhou B Art Center is honored in the Architectural Design category, Reconciliation Services in the Community Impact category, and BOK Financial at 17th and Grand in the Office category.
The Zhou B Art Center introduces a vibrant new art center in Kansas City’s 18th and Vine Jazz District through the transformative adaptive reuse and stabilization of the historic Crispus Attucks school building, a formerly segregated school in Kansas City in the mid 20th century. On the National Register of Historic Places, the existing building had fallen into disrepair over time, and BNIM worked with renowned artists, the Zhou Brothers, to reflect on its history while bringing renewed purpose for the future. The Zhou B Art Center provides expansive art galleries, a restored auditorium, and 40+ studios for working artists.
Reconciliation Services (RS) has served the urban core of Kansas City for over three decades. The renovation of RS’ longtime home at 31st and Troost represents a whole-hearted reinvestment in this place, supporting the organization in directly confronting community disparities and providing affordable food access, safe gathering spaces, social and mental health services, and enhanced community building for 4,000+ neighbors annually. The transformational, community-driven renovation addresses decades-long deferred maintenance and makeshift renovations of the existing building (c. 1908) to create revived, beautiful, and functional office space, community space, and retail space for Thelma’s Kitchen, the RS pay-it-forward community café.
BOK Financial is a new full-service banking and office space located at 17th and Grand Boulevard that is integral to the Grand Place redevelopment and a catalytic project implementing the Grand Boulevard Streetscape Plan. BOK Financial embraces its connection to the historic Crossroads District and enhances the urban condition through native plantings and serving as a pedestrian-friendly community asset at one of the Crossroads’ main intersections. Spaces include teller stations, a banking drive-thru and walk-up ATM, corporate offices, multi-purpose spaces, and a cantilevered outdoor terrace. The building features a photovoltaic rooftop array, resulting in 93% reduction in EUI from baseline.
Congratulations to all of the KCBJ 2025 Capstone Awards Honorees! The Capstone Awards event will take place on April 23.