Charles E. Whittaker Federal Courthouse Façade Replacement

Kansas City, MO

Under Construction

This highly technical pilot project for the Inflation Reduction act (IRA), replaces all glazed exterior assemblies of the courthouse with high-performance glazing while preserving the existing precast and granite cladding.  Project phasing and sequencing are critical, as the building remains fully operational during construction.  Originally opened in 2000, the Whittaker Courthouse stands 10 stories tall with a floor area of 595,000 square feet and approximately 100,000 square feet of façade glazing.

Additional enhancements include the integration of bird safe glazing to minimize bird strikes and protective design upgrades to improve occupant safety. The design is informed by thermal analysis and carbon reduction strategies that also enhance operational energy efficiency and elevate both user and public experiences while retaining the original aesthetic intent.

The project's phasing is evident in the construction progress at the north façade

Phasing is facilitated through shared crane time between façade removal, structural hoisting, and curtainwall installation

The protective design upgrades required a modified connection between the curtainwall supports and the existing concrete structure. In order to provide a load capacity roughly 10x that of the original façade, the design team developed an anchor assembly that is grouted into trenches made in the existing slab.

This innovative approach is installed at floor level, eliminating the need for steel workers to use lifts for most of their connections. With floor-to-floor heights in excess of 20 feet, this approach allowed for much safer and more efficient installation. Through careful design coordination, this structural solution has proven to be nimble enough to accommodate challenging unforeseen conditions often encountered when working with an existing building.

Typical north façade curtain wall structural reinforcement

The smaller punched windows required weaving structural upgrades into tight conditions. Careful planning and piece-by-piece coordination ensured that every bolt, tube, gasket, and trim piece would fit and function within the puzzle that is the existing building.

Typical punched window opening reinforcement

Typical existing punched window

The project was developed in close collaboration with the client and facility manager, design and engineering teams, and the General Contractor with their trade partners. A regiment of performance mockups and in-situ testing are being performed to ensure that years of design development are validated in the final installation.

Project team members installed mockup films of glass frit patterns to study bird strike deterrent options for the Charles E. Whittaker Federal Courthouse Façade Replacement.

Team members studying bird strike deterrent options in the KSP studio.

Left to right: Performance mockup and in-situ testing of the new curtainwall system