CPKC Pavilion is an ode to the Missouri River
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Taking a sneak peek days before the pavilion opened. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
It's hard to miss the newly opened KC Streetcar stop down at Berkley Riverfront, whether you're stepping off under its reflective roof or gaping at the glowing pylons at night.
The big picture: CPKC Pavilion is more than just a shiny new transit hub. It's a work of art symbolizing the Missouri River flowing nearby.
Zoom in: A reflective canopy vaulted 12 feet above the ground symbolizes rippling water and the movement beneath its surface.
- 11 soaring steel columns represent reeds sticking out of the water. They're topped with color-changing LEDs, which can match the city's skyline.
What they're saying: Steve Kellerman, construction director with Burns & McDonnell, tells Axios the project was completed in six months, about a third of the time it would normally take.
- He says the World Cup acted as a primary driver.
Between the lines: The $5 million project was funded in part through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which means all the metal and materials were produced in the U.S.
What's next: A "micro-top design, which gives it color to the concrete underneath," will be installed in the coming days, Burns & McDonnell architect Justin Rogers says.
- Additional seating will resemble "large pebbles" from the riverbed.