Generator Studio has come a long way since 2009 when co-founders Mike Kress and Tom Proebstle began the start-up architecture and design firm working out of Kress’ garage.
Slowly and intentionally, the two grew the studio to 20+ employees and moved into its KC Crossroads studio, quietly winning work with the most lauded professional sports teams across the country such as the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning, NBA Brooklyn Nets and NFL Minnesota Vikings.
This year, Generator Studio was selected as the 2022 AIA Firm Award recipient for its significant contributions to both the community at large and the profession of architecture.
The Firm Award is the highest honor the AIA bestows upon an architecture practice, and only one Kansas City firm is awarded the honor each year to recognize the firm with the most significant contributions to the built environment and displaying exceptional leadership.
Generator’s portfolio is unique among local firms given its wide variety of project types, which most recently includes:
● NWSL KC Current’s training facility - the first and only such facility to be built of sustainable cross-laminated timber
● The Current’s stadium is being built at the Berkley Riverfront which will connect with the KC Streetcar expansion for accessibility - and is the first pro-stadium to be purpose-built for women
● A new downtown corporate headquarters for Academy Bank
● The MLS Seattle Sounders FC new training facility
● Renovation of the historic Kansas City Star building - Grand Place
● A new child advocacy center HQ for the Child Protection Center in Midtown, alsoon the Streetcar route for greater accessibility
● A restaurant concept with Back Napkin Restaurant Group coming to the Crossroads in 2023
The firm strategically expanded beyond sports to include local commercial development, hotels and restaurants and non-profits to elevate the firm’s overall design thinking with cross-industry best practices and acute attention to customer experience & hospitality.
“This has been an incredible year for Generator and we’re so grateful for the momentum we have; but the success is entirely owed to our staff, without question. What we have done right is hire incredible people who have organically shaped Generator’s culture and raised the bar in design,” said Kress.
Generator has recently been honored with other notable awards, including being named a 2020 Kansas City Business Journal Champion of Business, Front Office Sports’ Best Employer in Sports in 2020 and one of Architizer’s Global Architecture & Design Firms to Watch in 2019.
“Our staff is our magic sauce - their talent, grit, and collaboration with one another is the real reason we are here and are called upon for impactful and rewarding projects,” Proebstle adds. “I think the other thing we did right was diversifying our project types. It gives our staff exposure to different kinds of design work that keeps them engaged and always learning.”
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FEATURE PHOTO: Generator Studio co-founders, Mike Kress (Left) and Tom Proebstle (Right), inside their office at 1615 Baltimore Ave. in KCMO prior to the building's 2019 renovation. PHOTO CREDIT: GENERATOR STUDIO.