KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A conventional courthouse it is not. The first thing visitors to Kansas City’s downtown core notice about the new Charles Evans Whittaker U.S. Courthouse is its crescent-shaped high-rise design. Then there are the two massive curtain walls at the building’s main entrance that visually draw visitors into the courthouse. With a life expectancy of more than 100 years, the building was officially dedicated October 23,1998.

The crescent shape provides a range of advantages: space efficiencies, layering of public to private access areas and capturing spectacular views are three of the most compelling. Building elevators and public lobbies in the center of the ring are quickly navigated. The open building core for public areas embraces natural light and amazing views of City Hall across the forthcoming new Civic Mall to the south.

Fast Facts
Height: 250 feet/76.2 meters

Stories: 11

Area: 565,000 sq.ft./52,490 m²

Cost: US $96 million

Main purpose: House U.S. Courts and related support agencies
Number of Courtrooms: 16

Occupancy: 600 tenants

Operated By: U.S. General Services Administration

Designed by: Ellerbe Becket/Abend-Singleton (Kansas City, Mo.)
Designed Life Expectancy: 100 years

Design Completed: August 1994

Construction Contractor: J.E. Dunn (Kansas City, Mo.)
Construction Began: July 1995

Construction Complete: September 1998