The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park [Kansas City, MO]:  PLAID has had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art on the development of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park since its inception in 1987. Rick Howell, while working with HNTB, served as the local landscape architect and assisted the Museum, the Hall Family Foundation, Landscape Architect Dan Kiley, and Architect Jaquelin Robertson FAIA, FAICP, during the master planning, design, and construction phases of the original sculpture park (titled the Henry Moore Sculpture Garden) that opened in 1989. Subsequently, Rick and Brett Payton prepared a comprehensive site condition assessment and provided CD/CA services for a $1.8m park renovation (2004-2006). They also provided comprehensive landscape architectural services for the Steven Holl-designed Bloch Building addition (2001-2007), and continue to provide ongoing consultation services for sculpture additions, landscape maintenance, and park operations. The sculpture park’s 25-year anniversary was celebrated in 2014. It has evolved into a beautiful outdoor space exhibiting a significant collection of outdoor sculpture. The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park is a Kansas City icon and an important work of modern landscape architecture in the U.S.

Ferment: PLAID assisted on the implementation of this dramatic 56-foot-tall stainless steel “dendroid” created by internationally acclaimed artist Roxy Paine. Services included consultation on site selection, site grading, construction logistics, and landscape renovation (2010-2011).

Glass Labyrinth: PLAID provided landscape architectural services for the most recent permanent addition to the sculpture park, the Glass Labyrinth, created by Artist Robert Morris. The sculpture is an equilateral triangle with 50-foot-long sides and 7.5-foot-tall glass walls above a bluestone floor. PLAID assisted the Museum on site selection/sculpture orientation, pedestrian access and circulation, materials selection, site grading and drainage, and planting design (2013-2014). 

Project Team
Original Henry Moore Sculpture Garden
     Designers: Dan Kiley and Jaquelin Robertson, FAIA, FAICP
     Local Landscape Architect: HNTB (Rick Howell, ASLA, PLA, LEEDap)
     General Contractor: JE Dunn
     Landscape Contractor: Suburban Lawn & Garden
Sculpture Park Renovation/Bloch Building/Ongoing Design Services
     Landscape Architects: GEA and PLAID (Rick Howell and Brett Payton)
     Landscape Contractor: Shelton & Sons