KANSAS CITY, MO - The Cordish Companies announced that construction has commenced on the transformation of the historic Midland Office Building into Midland Lofts, a 135-unit residential building. Midland Lofts will sit in the midst of the burgeoning downtown Power & Light District neighborhood, directly connected to the legendary Midland Theatre and steps away from Cosentino's Downtown Market, Kansas City Live!, T-Mobile Center, Genesis Health Clubs, the KC Streetcar line, dozens of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues, and cultural destinations like the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
"We are eager to bring the historic Midland Office Building back to life as Midland Lofts," said Marnie Sauls, executive director of Residential Management for Cordish Living. "The residential renaissance of downtown Kansas City began with historic conversions, and we think it is fitting as we begin this next phase of the renaissance that we are adding both new construction with Three Light and a historic renovation of the highest quality with Midland Lofts to the Power & Light District."
"We're so thankful for the entire team at The Cordish Companies and for their vision, dedication and passion for Kansas City," said Brian Platt, City Manager of Kansas City, MO. "What is really important about the work that Cordish does is it's not the just same thing over and over. This is not a copy and paste project. This is an adaptive reuse of a historic building that is going to be a unique space. It's filling some of the holes in our market and it's so important to us that we have options for downtown residential living. We're so excited about the vision for downtown and all that this project brings to the City."
For almost two decades, The Cordish Companies has invested in downtown Kansas City, both with new construction projects and the restoration of historic buildings including the B&B Theatre, the Midland Theatre, and now Midland Lofts. In 2008, Cordish and AMC completed a two-year, multi-million dollar renovation of the Midland Theatre, which first opened its doors in 1927. Since the renovation, the celebrated Kansas City venue has welcomed millions of guests and hosts hundreds of events each year.
The adjacent office building, an underutilized historic jewel that has been vacant for more than 20 years, will be renovated to include 135 beautiful, airy loft apartments for rent featuring multiple open-concept studio and one-bedroom floor plans. Once complete, Midland Lofts will feature an impressive street-level lobby with large windows bringing in natural light, multiple seating areas for conversation and entertainment, and a suite of amenities and services for renters.
"The Midland Lofts renovation is a significant step in the direction of making Kansas City more broadly accessible to the downtown workforce," said Emelyna Aurich, director of Property Management for Cordish Living. "We are extremely excited to be introducing so many apartment units to the Power & Light District that are priced below $1,000 per month and we firmly believe The Midland Lofts can be a catalyst for the development of more moderately priced apartment units downtown – both growing our density and making the community more moderately priced."
The architecture and the interior design of Midland Lofts will reflect the rich history and unique character of the building and theater while channeling the upscale finishes and design of One Light, Two Light and Three Light. Local Kansas City architecture and design firm Helix is the project architect for Midland Lofts. Helix was also the project architect for the historic renovations of the Midland Theatre and Mainstreet Theaters in the Power & Light District. Each living space has been meticulously designed with quartz countertops and tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, custom closet organizers, porcelain tile bathroom floors, in-unit washers and dryers, and oversized windows that show off incredible views of downtown.
RD Jones + Associates, an award-winning full-service design firm specializing in interior design and architecture, is leading the interior design for Midland Lofts' amenity spaces.
"The renovation and adaptive reuse of the Midland Building into modern and beautiful apartments will positively contribute to the ongoing revitalization of downtown Kansas City," said Helix Principal Jay Tomlinson, FAIA. "It not only reflects Helix's mission of breathing new life into historic buildings, but the most sustainable building is one that is already built. The Midland Building has long been regarded as an underutilized historic jewel, and its renovation ensures that this magnificent piece of architecture will remain functional and relevant in the modern era."
"With today's Midland Lofts celebration and Three Light set to open on September 1, we are thrilled to be bringing even more new downtown living options to the Power & Light District," said John Moncke, president of the Kansas City Power & Light District. "Midland Lofts marries the rich history of Kansas City with a modern, elegant lifestyle and will provide additional first-class residential options at accessible price points. For the past 15 years, we have invested in building a world-class community downtown, with historic renovation and new construction projects alike, a look forward to continuing our commitment to downtown Kansas City."