New Renderings of Planned Convention Hotel Show Transformation of Current Downtown Dead Zone

By Kevin Collison

Developer Mike Burke recently showed off the latest renderings of the planned 800-room Loews Kansas City Convention Center Hotel, a project that will replace a bland office building and parking lot with a 21-story glass tower.

The project, which is expected to begin construction in October with completion anticipated in late 2019 or early 2020, is going up on the site of the American Hereford Assocation building at 1501 Wyandotte and a city-owned parking lot along Baltimore Avenue.

The new hotel lobby will be located on Wyandotte across from the Convention Center Grand Ballroom and the hotel also will be linked to the convention center via a skywalk over Wyandotte. Burke said the views from inside the hotel of downtown will be spectacular.

The building will rise 21- or 22 stories above Baltimore and 18 stories above Wyandotte. The building is straddling a steep cliff separating the site, and will provide an important connection between the Central Business District, the Crossroads and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The hotel garage will accommodate 500 cars, and if the need arises, Burke pointed out the nearby Kauffman Center garage has space for 1,000 more.

The $310 million project will also include a lobby bar, signature restaurant, indoor lap pool and 60,000 square-feet of meeting and event space.

The main entrance of the hotel is off Wyandotte Avenue

The hotel is being designed to offer dramatic views of downtown Kansas City.

The hotel is oriented to provide views of downtown Kansas City.

The planned convention hotel will bring life to a currently dead corner of downtown and provide a strong connection to the Crossroads and Kauffman Center.

Footprint of convention hotel project