Three BNIM Projects Receive 2023 AIA Kansas City Honor Awards, including Project of the Year

Three of BNIM’s received Honor Awards at the 2023 Kansas City Design Excellence Awards Celebration. The jury included Wendell Burnette, FAIA, Diana Jacobs, FAIA, and Eddie Jones, FAIA.

The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art – Project of the Year, AIA KC Honor Award in Architecture (Large)
The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art reestablishes itself as a state-of-the-art and resilient cultural destination, housing its world-renowned collection for the first time in 14 years after historic flooding in 2008. The museum is a blend of elegance and practicality, serving as a library and laboratory for the arts at the university. With a focus on simplicity and beauty, the facility emphasizes its collection while becoming a welcoming ‘living room’ on campus.

Jury members commented, “This is a project of contrasts done really, really well. Protection and Invitation, recreation and reflection, confluence and destination, all in a package that enlightens the campus and heightens the senses of those who visit. I can’t wait to get to Iowa to experience the quiet elegance of all this building [and] be surrounded by carefully curated stories among the warmth and the human scale of the many textures throughout. The jury immediately recognized this project for its obvious elegance, restraint, and detailing.”

Overbrook Overlook – AIA KC Honor Award in Architecture (Extra Small)
Overbrook Overlook is a farmhouse situated on a historically and family-owned farm in Overbrook, KS. It repurposes a 1960 yellow pine structure and a corrugated metal barn into a charming home overlooking the town. The exterior retains the weathered corrugated metal siding, creating a rustic contrast with the warm pine interior. The farmhouse is designed to maximize natural light and connect with the surrounding nature. Adjacent to the farmhouse stands the farm’s original 1860 dry stack limestone house, which was thoughtfully reconstructed as an ancillary historic structure.

The jury “appreciated the restraint and recognition of an existing condition. Everything is left as much as possible as is. The prairie landscape is left intact. The existing siding as found is utilized and communicates something about the existing condition. The principal intervention is the layout of the floorplan and how the spaces within will engage the landscape and engage the light. That is amplified by using a very humble material, plywood, to line the interior […] An exceptional measure of design excellence at an honor award level.”

Kansas City International Airport Parking Garage – AIA KC Honor Award in Architecture (Extra Large)
The Kansas City International (KCI) Airport Parking Garage, alongside a new airport terminal, reflects the city’s regional identity on a global scale. The design prioritizes creating a quality visitor experience with clear navigation, convenience, and efficiency for passengers, and easy access to transportation. The 6,219-space garage incorporates electric vehicle charging stations, multiple transport connections, and a smart parking guidance system to improve user experience. Safety, security, and environmental performance were also integral to the design.

The jury commented, “KCI Garage’s unique art installations, rigorous detailing, and clarified forms stand out as a welcoming host to travelers arriving to Kansas City. This parking demonstrates that even the most ubiquitous structures can embody timeless design and celebrate art in public spaces. BNIM proved that our role as architects is deep and wide regardless of project type. Our role in crafting dignified experiences runs the gamut, especially in places like airports. One of the jurors remarked, ‘When cars are no longer in broad use, I will be ready to move into this building’.”