Kansas City Art Institute – David T. Beals III Studio for Art and Technology

Bridging the present and future of art, the David T. Beals III Studio for Art and Technology at the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) provides a flexible, technology-rich space for students to prototype and develop innovative projects.

The 5,000-square-foot addition to the Sculpture Department’s Volker Building is a flexible, open environment that adapts to emerging technologies and evolving educational needs. The studio serves all 13 KCAI majors—ranging from ceramics and sculpture to fiber and filmmaking—providing adynamic space where students can prototype, experiment, and refine their craft.

Anchored by a gallery and critique room for collaboration and exhibition, the space also houses a fabrication lab featuring interactive digital workstations, CNC routers, laser cutters, 3D printers, and even a digital loom—placing a full spectrum of creative tools within reach.

As a contemporary counterpoint to the historic Vanderslice Hall, the studio’s black matte metal façade and simple shed form create a dialogue between modernity and tradition.

The project also reuses the existing structure of the Volker Building—a previous project by Multistudio—while introducing a contemporary black matte façade that contrasts subtly with the historic campus.

Rooted in KCAI’s rich artistic legacy, the Beals Studio creates a dialogue between past and future. A newly designed entryway and public plaza further integrate the studio into the broader campus landscape, reinforcing its role as a hub for innovation, making, and creative exchange.