Westport Commons
A leading example of urban acupuncture that is the largest co-working facility in the world
![Westport Commons](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15008_00_westport-commons_id27900.jpg)
Information
- Location Kansas City, Missouri
- Size 372,000 SF
Plexpod Westport Commons is the transformation of Kansas City, Missouri’s first ever junior high building, Westport Middle School, and Westport High School into a community resource that immediately became a regional hub for innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship. The Westport Commons redevelopment is located in Midtown Kansas City, and intersects three local neighborhoods – Old Hyde Park, Hyde Park and Southmoreland. The project has positively impacted entrepreneurs, early-stage companies, non-profit organizations and others in in Kansas City. In addition to providing lower cost solutions for office spaces, Westport Commons also provides community resources for education and development. The campus includes: unique coworking and co-living environments, an early learning center, health and wellness programs, a local healthy food system including urban agriculture, a restaurant, and a coffee gallery. New glazing, mechanical, electrical and lighting systems were utilized to improve human health and productivity while reducing energy and resource use.
Impact + Innovation
Plexpod Westport Commons was designed as one of the largest co-working facilities in the world. This ambitious, innovative development is a leading example of urban acupuncture — a design and financial intervention in an abandoned community asset that sparks the revitalization of the community surrounding it. The restoration and reuse celebrates the beautiful and unique character of both schools, including historic architectural components and the historic auditorium (now a state-of-the-art meeting and performance space) and the restoration of historic murals painted by students during the school’s history.
![Westport Commons](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15008_00_westport-commons_id27903.jpg)
Process
Sustainable Development Partners Kansas City utilized a combination of historic and new market tax credits to finance the rehabilitation of this space. Westport Commons is a perfect example of how creative financing and a strategic approach to funding can bring new life to both a historic building and its community, spurring economic growth in areas where it is needed most. In addition to providing lower cost solutions to small business owners and entrepreneurs of Kansas City, Westport Commons also provides community resources for education and development. The development team also worked with Rosin Preservation, a Kansas City historic architecture and building preservation consulting firm, to ensure they were creating a space that would not only be functional but one that would keep the historic character of the space intact as much as possible.
People
Team
- Alyssa Parsons
- Craig Scranton
- Jonathan Sloan
- April Darbyshire
- Joshua Harrold
- Adam Wiechman
- Laura Pastine
- Rob Gray
- Matt Kastel
- Richard Prudenti
- Aaron Ross
- Eric Baldwin
- Jihee Chung
- Vanessa Douthat
- Barbara Cugno
- Elise Hubbard
- Arpit Balhara
- Taylor Goetzinger
Client
HP Development Partners, LLC
![Westport Commons](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15008_00_westport-commons_id27908.jpg)
Media
![Westport Commons](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15008_00_westport-commons_id27907.jpg)
Awards
Missouri Preservation Society
Preserve Missouri Honor Award
2018
![Westport Commons](https://www.bnim.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/15008_00_westport-commons_id27899.jpg)