After more than 20 years, the City of Overland Park, the largest suburban city in the Kansas City metro area, realized its dream to build a convention center complex. The resulting Overland Park Convention Center and attached Sheraton Hotel provide exceptional exhibit space and set new standards in the hospitality industry.
More than 35,000 sq. ft. of Citadel Architectural Products’ Envelope 2000® metal composite material panels were used to tie the two buildings together and to provide a contemporary feel throughout the complex. The panels were finished in custom Seafoam Green and attached using Citadel’s progressive Reveal System.
The convention facility offers 237,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, meeting/multi-purpose areas and ballroom space linked to the 412-room Sheraton Hotel which has 25,000 sq. ft. of additional meeting space.
Architectural design for the project was provided by DLR Group, Kansas City. Designers were challenged to provide individual identities for the two facilities while keeping them joined as a single destination complex. “The design was of an iconic nature—intended to become a symbol of Overland Park. We wanted to provide a reflected view of the city while outwardly drawing people in to the complex,” said Ken Martin, project manager.
Designers integrated a 25,000 sq. ft. outdoor courtyard between the hotel and the conventions center with an open-air walkway between the two. The Citadel panels are used on both facilities and interface with brick on the convention center and cast stone modules on the hotel. “The Citadel panels augment the contemporary yet timeless feel of the design,” according to Martin. “And from a practical standpoint, the panels provide a long service life with low maintenance. Plus, their light weight required much less structural support.”
Martin also confirmed the Reveal System was significantly less expensive than other attachment systems that were considered.
Installation of the Citadel Reveal System panels was done by Kaw Roofing and Sheet Metal, Kansas City. The Citadel distributor on the project was J.D. Day & Company, Kansas City.