This giant KC federal building’s design looked more like business than government
Kansas City’s skyline rose dramatically in the 1920s and 1930s. But by the 50s and 60s, as more and more people headed for the suburbs, demolition in downtown was more common than new construction.
The Federal Building, at 12th & Locust Streets, was a big exception—1.2 million square feet big.
The 18-story tower with a checkerboard “skin” bore the trademarks of the International Style seen in buildings like the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
That is, minimal ornamentation with an emphasis on modern materials which made construction less expensive.
Instead of the stately face that government buildings traditionally presented, International style structures emphasized their large internal spaces which could be more efficiently repurposed as required.
The style, which was proving popular in the business world, further blurred the line between public and private spaces.
But aesthetics weren’t completely cast aside. A large sculpture and mural, along with a landscaped plaza gave the Federal Building’s inhabitants some degree of visual relief.
Twenty eight years after the Federal Building opened, it was renamed for longtime Missouri Congressman Richard Bolling.
In 1995, following the bombing at the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, changes were made to increase security around the entrance and plaza area..
Earlier this year, the Richard Bolling Federal Building appeared to face a new existential crisis. Word came down that the Trump administration had added it to a list of 440 government buildings which could be marked for disposal. But shortly after, the list was deleted.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.