East 9 at Pickwick Plaza

The Historic Pickwick Plaza Hotel, built in the 1930s, was once a signature landmark of downtown Kansas City. A frequent retreat of County Judge Harry S. Truman before his presidency, the Pickwick served as “the place” in town for cross-country travelers. Originally envisioned as a true mixed-use facility, it combined a luxury hotel, interstate bus terminal, 300-space parking garage and six-story office building.

Wallace Design Collective provided structural engineering services for the adaptive reuse of the Pickwick complex, transforming the historic hotel and adjacent multi-story buildings into a vibrant mixed-use community. The redevelopment features 260 market-rate apartments, primarily one-bedroom units, along with street-level retail. Residents enjoy a restored two-level historic lobby, indoor pool, fitness and recreation facilities, laundry, hospitality and community rooms, and other modern amenities.

Through this redevelopment, the Pickwick once again serves as a vibrant hub for downtown life – linking its storied past with a renewed future.

photography: ©Bob Greenspan