Habitat for Humanity Office Renovation

The design focused on restoring the original building’s character and historical features that had largely been hidden by renovations over the years. Working within the existing structure, the renewed Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City office takes cues from the original design concept of the building and celebrates its significant features such as the historic plaster work and the dome of the original sanctuary that now serve as focal points of the new community room. In a previous renovation, a second floor had also been added to this community gathering space which divided the space into two separate floors. The design team removed this inserted second floor, returning the community space back to its two-story, multi-use function for Habitat KC. Other design layout adjustments included reestablishing the pedestrian entry of the building on the north façade which served as the historic front of the building. Exterior stone and brick masonry repairs, window replacement, healthy building materials, updated building systems, and a new roof contribute to restoring the existing facility while ensuring the building provides a healthy, human-purposed environment for Habitat KC’s building users. Daylighting and spatial organization also greatly contribute to occupant comfort and well-being. Additional windows along the north and west façade and skylights were inserted to introduce enhanced daylighting into the facility. Open office workstations have direct access to views and daylight, and interior private offices feature glass walls that welcome light in from these shared areas.