Construction has begun on ARTerra, the first building in Kansas City to be constructed with cold-formed steel framing (CFS). CFS provides greater fire safety compared with traditional wood frame construction, sources said after a March 20 eight-alarm fire at the Royale at CityPlace apartments project in Overland Park increased interest in the wood-frame alternative.
Developed by a joint venture involving Kansas City-based Copaken Brooks and St. Louis-based Altus Properties, the 12-story building will be the first apartment high-rise to be constructed in the Crossroads. The $40 million tower will include 126 luxury units ranging from studios through three-bedroom apartments. The project will include first-floor retail, an integrated parking garage and best-in-class amenity spaces, including an infinity pool overlooking Liberty Memorial and Penn Valley Park, as well as a 12th-floor amenity suite offering unparalleled skyline views. A formal groundbreaking is expected in early August, with project completion anticipated by late 2018.