Kansas City, Missouri, USA
With limited and carefully placed apertures, Mattie Rhodes Cultural Arts Center by David Dowell and the El Dorado design team, houses the client’s cultural programming, including arts education, public programming, and curation of the Hand-in-Hand Folk Art collection.
The project has been awarded an Honorable Mention at the 2023 American Architecture Awards from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The volume allows a generous display of artwork and facilitates future expansion by adding a second floor.
A custom trellis of steel and wood (designed and built by the architects) expands the program space outside and shields the large gallery window wall from direct sunlight.
The architects have included many gathering places featuring a coffee bar and gift shop highlighting work from local artists.
These spaces are also used for workforce development workshops, corporate meetings, and parties.
The building is used for several different needs, including a creative and safe outlet for area children during out-of-school hours providing access to a number of artistic media, early learning opportunities, a place for healing through art therapy, and support for youth participating in art/youth development programming.
Project: Mattie Rhodes Cultural Arts Center
Architects: El Dorado Inc.
Lead Architect: David Dowell
General Contractor: McCown Gordon Construction LLC.
Client: Mattie Rhodes
Photographers: Mike Sinclair
