Today’s featured project is Crosstown Substation located in the Crossroads District of Kansas City, MO. Once a deteriorated and graffiti laden concrete mass, this substation owned by KCP&L has emerged as a backdrop for artistic photographs, public gathering, and curated art.
The bent and perforated weathering steel was provided by internationally recognized, Kansas City based Zahner. The nightly light displays are supported by over 10 thousand color changing LED lights powered by 115 solar panels.
Interesting Fact:
Crosstown Substation was the recipient of the 2014 EDC Cornerstone Award for Energy, and the 2014 Kansas City Chapter AGC Building Excellence Award Finalist for Project of the year.
Lighting Cabinet Programming & Installation: Jim Woodfill
The Corner of Holmes & 18th Street
Holmes Street Elevation
Full Scale Mock Up Created By Dale Frommelt – Egg Design
During one of our weekly brainstorming sessions we decided to design t-shirts that feature three of our recently completed projects. Although it seems like this would be a fairly easy task, it was much more challenging than you might think. The rules of engagement were simple:
Each t-shirt must incorporate Pendulum’s brand/icon (highlighted in the bubbles)
Each t-shirt must tastefully display a unique project feature
Each t-shirt must communicate the essence of the design/conceptual statement
Under the leadership of Ms. Lauren Cruz, the designs featured above incorporated all off the design constraints in a winning combination.
Neuroscience Group Field (formerly known as Time Warner Cable Field)
One of the key missing features of the original 1995 design (pictured on the left) was the classic ballpark character and major sense of entry that traditional baseball enthusiasts often look for when they attend a game. Although there were a number of enhancements made in our renovation for the 2013 season, the main entry was by far one of the most noticeable visual differences from the parking lot. Our t-shirt design contrasts the old with the new while giving a nod to the sepia tone graphics and way-finding package we designed and incorporated throughout the new design.
KCP&L Crosstown Substation – 2014 EDC Cornerstone Award (Energy Category)
Crosstown Substation is one of those projects that is hard to categorize…is it art, is it a building, is it a fence? In its original state (pictured above on the left), our concept mock-up sits in front of the existing graffiti plagued concrete wall that protected the public from the high voltage electrical equipment within. Our new design serves the same purpose in an enhanced presentation that combines use of technology (solar power & LED lighting) and art (perforated steel panel) to engage the community with a programmed light show and the display of curated works of art. Our t-shirt design celebrates the simplicity of our repetitive perforated steel pattern while emulating the LED technology used to light the night sky.
The Guild – 2013 NOMA Design Citation
RW/2 + The Wade Brothers + Real Fake are Awesome, people with good taste book events here – Enough Said…
Mr. Iiams finally caught a break in between projects and shot the substation a few nights ago. Once it cools down a bit we’re thinking live music and food trucks…
Project Facts
10,500 Color Changing LED Lights
Powered By 115 Solar Panels (25 Kilowatts)
64 Tons of Weathering Steel
Most Common Questions
“What is that thing?”
“Hey man…where’s the front door to this night club?”
“What’s a substation?”
Project Team
Architect/Designer – Pendulum
Lighting Consultant – Derek Porter Studio
Structural Engineer – Dubois Consultants
Commissioned Artist (Main Plaza Light Cabinet Display) – James Woodfill
As an update to our last post we’ve installed the full size art wall mock-up on site at the corner of 19th and Cherry (KCP&L Crosstown Sub Station). If you are in town feel free to visit and experience the scale of the project in context. The majority of the block will be wrapped with our steel panel system…approximately 1000 feet. The temporary lighting installation should be on site later this week…we’ll keep you posted.
Just in case you are wondering, the diagonal bracing flanking both sides of the mock-up will NOT exist in the final design, this is a temporary fix for a minor logistical issue…they always seem to pop up at the most inopportune times.
