Urban Agriculture + Sustainable Infrastructure Bring New Life to Downtown Site

An eroding and vacant lot in Kansas City was transformed into a demonstration project showcasing innovative solutions for sustainable urban development.

While the site has long-term potential for mixed-use development, property owner DST Systems wanted to find ideas for a productive and beautiful use of the transitional land. HOK developed a showcase of scalable, integrated ideas about stormwater best management practices, urban agriculture, renewable energy and public space.

The stormwater capture and biofiltration system collects, cleans and stores up to 89,000 gallons of stormwater at a time, reducing the impact on Kansas City’s aging combined sanitary-storm sewer system. This system redirects water to an underground cistern storage system, where it is UV-treated. A pervious site perimeter captures stormwater runoff from adjacent streets and roofs, filters it through bioswales and stores it on site for irrigation use. 

Designed as a net-zero power site, grid-tied photovoltaic solar panels offset pump power used to irrigate the site’s extensive gardens. A low-velocity wind turbine supplies power to the perimeter LED pedestrian site lighting.

The site now includes rain gardens, container beds and other demonstration gardens, an orchard, and more than 100 high-production raised vegetable beds. Tended by local business volunteers, including many of HOK’s Kansas City staff, the gardens have produced an average of more than 3 tons annually. All produce grown on the site is donated to a local food bank.

Often visited and toured by state, municipal, and community parties, the project serves as a model for public-private partnerships in sustainable developments.