Project

Current Landing Riverfront Promenade

Our team led the design of the Current Landing Riverfront Promenade, transforming a former landfill turned open space into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood integrated with the first women’s sports stadium in the world, CPKC Stadium. Our team worked closely with the ownership group and development team, guiding the project from concept to implementation, balancing technical execution with creative vision.

The promenade is a pedestrian-focused streetscape merging the mixed-use development with an enhanced levee park (Founder’s Park at Current Landing) along the Missouri River. The promenade supports a variety of uses that go beyond a typical street, including performances and pop-up markets, but leverages day-to-day uses like outdoor dining, small gathering, and on-street parking. The promenade can temporarily be closed to transform seamlessly into a dynamic event space to host festivals, concerts and cultural gatherings. The design complements adjacent retail, reinforcing the riverfront’s identity as an active, urban waterfront district.

We worked intentionally to create public spaces that would support long-term neighborhood success. Retail visibility, shaded seating, flexible plazas and playful, engaging landscapes were designed to work together, drawing visitors into the district while strengthening opportunities for local businesses. Additionally, our team helped maintain and enhance connectivity to Kansas City’s broader trail network, serving as a critical link between downtown, regional trails and riverfront destinations. The design reflects the importance of high-quality design and the ecological character of the site while prioritizing environmental stewardship and flood resilience.

Client

Palmer Square Real Estate/KC Current, Marquee Development

Location

Berkley Riverfront, Kansas City, Missouri

Region

Midwest

Service

Architecture

Industry

Commercial, Retail & Institutional

Through our collaborative design leadership, Current Landing is positioned to become a one-of-a-kind metropolitan destination for the city that celebrates the river, embraces community and establishes a bold precedent for urban waterfront development in the region. With more than 1,000 residential units, 500,000 square feet of commercial space, new hotels, and curated dining and retail experiences, Current Landing becomes the foundation of a lasting connection between Kansas Citians and the river, with the promenade serving as its vibrant front door.

Design Goals & Objectives

Open, inviting and authentic: Provide a plug-and-play approach for performances, buskers, artists and street vendors that is flexible and intentional.

Create a successful retail environment: Provide visibility to retailers through the strategic placement of amenity spaces and landscape materials.

Flexible design for mobility: Provide safe infrastructure along the promenade for pedestrians, bicyclists, vehicles and stadium/infrastructure service.

Key Features

Pedestrian-focused retail street: A vibrant, walkable promenade that prioritizes pedestrian comfort and safety while accommodating bicycles and micromobility options for seamless multimodal access.

Flexible outdoor dining and activation: Thoughtfully designed to support adaptable outdoor dining, pop-up markets and seasonal programming that activates the public realm.

Event-ready streetscape: Can be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic, transforming it into a dynamic venue for festivals, community gatherings and cultural events.

Integration with existing trail network: A key connector within the larger Riverfront Heritage Trail and Greenline KC trail networks, linking riverfront amenities with citywide green infrastructure to promote alternate modes of transportation.

Context-sensitive design: Materials, furnishings and planting thoughtfully selected for reinforcing a unique sense of place and environmental stewardship.

Inviting edges and transitions: Seamless transition of retail frontages, plazas and landscape into one another, encouraging indoor/outdoor activation and a desire for repeat visits to the development.