Kansas City, Mo., April 26, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) broke ground today on an 18,000 square foot building located at 44th and Oak Streets, Paul and Linda DeBruce Hall. Designed specifically for Art History, Creative Writing, Entrepreneurial Studies, Liberal Arts and Student Services, Paul and Linda DeBruce Hall will impact every student at the college and will elevate the profile of KCAI’s academic programs in a state-of-the-art facility.
Named for two of Kansas City’s visionary philanthropists, Paul and Linda DeBruce have a genuine desire to give back to organizations that provide people with the opportunity to improve their lives and to programs that make a difference in our community. Their belief that KCAI graduates are an important part of what differentiates Kansas City from other cities is at the core of our plans for the future.
“All of us at KCAI are grateful to Paul and Linda and their vote of confidence in the college and in the future of art and design education. This beautifully designed facility, will have a tremendous influence on our students and will become classrooms in a garden, a building our neighbors will be proud of, and a pleasure to work in and walk past,” said Tony Jones, The Nerman Family President.
The Hall is designed by Hufft, a Kansas City-based architecture firm known for creating meaningful spaces and objects inspired by integrating designers and builders into one holistic process. Award-winning landscape architects Hoerr Schaudt will design the expansive outdoor spaces and Kansas City construction company McCownGordon will build the facility.
A unique architectural feature of the Hall will be the entry portal on Oak Street. Visitors will enter through a portal adorned with panels, each engraved with the name of influential art historians of the past and present. The entrance will become a tribute to the individuals who have interpreted and written about art and artists for future generations. “Many museums and art centers celebrate artists by having their names of the facade - but no one has honored art historians - the scholars who interpret, explain and tell us the stories of those artists. I think they deserve thanks and recognition” said Jones.
Construction on Paul and Linda DeBruce Hall is scheduled to begin in late spring. To see renderings of the building click here.
About the Kansas City Art Institute
Founded in 1885, the Kansas City Art Institute is one of the oldest and most respected art and design colleges in the United States. Located at 4415 Warwick in Kansas City, Mo., KCAI is a premier private, fully-accredited four-year college of art and design awarding the Bachelor of Fine Art in 14 majors. KCAI’s mission is to prepare gifted students to transform the world creatively through art and design. Learn more at www.kcai.edu or follow us on Twitter: @KCArtInstitute, Facebook: Facebook.com/kansascityartinstitute and Instagram: KCArtInstitute
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