FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 11, 2006

City completing $1.5 million Kansas City Museum restoration

Final design of next phase under way with construction to begin in spring 2007

The $1.5 million first phase of renovation to the Kansas City Museum of History and Science is almost finished and final design of the $1.2 million second phase has started. The museum is located at 3218 Gladstone Blvd. in Kansas City, Mo.

The first phase of the project has included cleaning, repairing and restoring the 96-year-old building's roof and masonry. The second phase of restoration includes the replacement and restoration of exterior doors and windows. Lead abatement also must be performed.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the results of this work," said Councilwoman Deb Hermann, 1st District at large. "Not only is this a benefit to historic Old Northeast, but it's also a huge step in the restoration of one of Kansas City's most underserved landmarks."

The original six-building estate was built in 1910 by Robert A. Long, a Kansas City lumber baron. In 1948, the Kansas City Museum Association donated the entire estate to the City of Kansas City, Mo., which is responsible for maintenance of the property. The estate has faced decades of harsh weather and limited maintenance, increasing the urgency of its comprehensive renovation.

The City's Capital Improvements Management Office is overseeing the extensive restoration to the museum, which is one of Kansas City's architectural treasures. The Kansas City Museum occupies the five remaining original buildings of the estate, including the 70-room mansion, carriage house, caretaker's house, carpenters' workshop and conservatory.

"We've worked closely with the City and Kansas City-based International Architects Atelier to develop a five-part master plan to restore the estate," said Ruthanne Harper, 1st District Public Improvements Advisory Committee member and president of the Kansas City Museum's advisory board. "We've been impressed with the City's managing of the first phase of this project, where they had sufficient cost savings to enable the repair of main building's historic portico."

The second phase also includes work to restore original, ornate art-glass doors and windows. Any doors and windows that must be replaced will have replica profiles, and also will be energy efficient, maintainable and provide protection of interior construction and displayed artifacts from harmful sunlight. In addition, work will be done to complete exterior improvements to the main building, such as porch flooring, ceilings, lighting and the rebuilding of the north basement stairwell.

Future planned phases of the restoration include improvements to the electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems of the carriage house and the mansion. Also the interior finishes will be addressed, and the estate's grounds and landscaping, fences, gates and drainage issues will be properly restored.

The first two phases of the project are being funded by general obligation bonds and Public Improvements Advisory Committee funds. International Architects Atelier has designed all phases of the project and MTS Contracting Inc. is completing the first phase of renovations. Construction for the second phase of the project is anticipated to be ready for bid in January 2007, and work is likely to begin in the spring of 2007.