Remodeled Bloch Heritage Hall reopens with an eye on empowering 21st-century careers and businesses

The UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management celebrated the opening of its newly remodeled Bloch Heritage Hall, along with the 100th anniversary of the birth of the school’s namesake. Alumni, students, university leadership, city officials, donors and members of the Bloch family gathered for the July 2022 celebration and ribbon cutting.

The $17 million renovation improves the educational experiences for our students and provides the tools to empower them to graduate and launch successful careers and businesses. State-of-the-art classroom technology and innovative room design provide flexibility for optimal virtual class attendance. These upgrades will better serve students with work and childcare obligations, as well as travel schedules.

As part of the project, the Marion H. Bloch Terrace and Park also went through a transformation. A popular space for events, collaboration and creating connections, enhancements included landscaping and outdoor seating.

Henry W. Bloch was passionate about giving back to Kansas City and fostering future generations of community-minded entrepreneurs.

“Henry Bloch, and the community leaders who came before him, created a heritage of investment in higher education and a dedication to innovation,” Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said. “Just as they joined together to support the university more than 90 years ago, UMKC has again witnessed the generosity of donors who value the importance of maintaining excellent educational opportunities close to home.”

$120M Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building design revealed

Formed in 2017, the UMKC Health Sciences District is a partnership among UMKC and 12 neighboring health-care institutions. This new interprofessional Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building will house state-of-the-art dental teaching clinics and medical school teaching facilities while elevating collaboration among health-care professions and increasing capacity for developing health solutions and patient care.

UMKC is one of only 20 universities in the country where dentistry, medicine, nursing and health studies, and pharmacy share a single, walkable campus. The new facility will create opportunities for expanded collaboration in training and research.

“The project will spark an expansion of the entire UMKC Health Sciences District that could dramatically expand health care in Kansas City, attract top faculty and researchers and new private investment that could create new jobs and eventually contribute billions to the Kansas City economy,” Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said.

The new facility will also provide space for the UMKC Health Equity Institute, the university’s Data Science and Analytics Innovation Center and its new biomedical engineering program. UMKC will occupy the first several floors of the project, and additional floors will be occupied by our public partners for medical office space, clinical space and other uses.

“The Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building will further solidify the UMKC Health Sciences District as a national leader in medical education and health care as well as support our mission of increasing health equity in the Kansas City region and beyond,” Chancellor Agrawal said.

Groundbreaking will occur in 2024 with project completion expected in 2026.

Building underway for satellite rural medicine program in St. Joseph, Missouri

In 2021, UMKC received a $7 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to launch the new program in January 2021. In introducing the St. Joseph program, UMKC School of Medicine officials cited a shortage of primary-care providers in rural areas throughout Missouri.

On August 29, 2023, the School of Medicine broke ground on a new building in St. Joseph, Missouri, to house the school's program for rural health care already operating there. Federally and state funded, the St. Joseph campus is scheduled to open in Fall 2025.

With this building, the School of Medicine, in partnership with Mosaic Life Care, will expand its program in St. Joseph. This state-of-the-art facility will improve access to health-care services for people in Missouri, while also increasing the number of physicians practicing in rural Missouri and surrounding areas.

“Through our investments in the St. Joseph campus, UMKC is answering the call to help ensure all Missourians have access to the health care they deserve," said UMKC Chancellor Mauil Agrawal.

Grant Recital Hall, the Conservatory’s performance theater, modernized

The university invested $4 million in renovations at the UMKC Conservatory — transforming Grant Recital Hall, improving student practice rooms and more. Renovations and improvements were focused on hearing health and safety, updated technology and increased usable space. This included new acoustic treatments and sound equipment, along with updates to improve accessibility and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Recital and rehearsal spaces in the James C. Olson Performing Arts Center were also updated, in addition to soundproofing and new flooring.

The first of a series of Conservatory renovations and expansions, further phased renovations of the Conservatory are planned to meet future needs. Additional Conservatory renovations and expansions to Grant Hall and the Olson Performing Arts Center will take place during the next several years.

"The reopening of the newly renovated Grant Recital Hall has energized and propelled creativity forward here at the Conservatory," said Courtney Crappell, dean of the Conservatory. "With its incredible acoustics and refined aesthetics, we now have a space for solo and chamber music that matches up with the world-class quality of our UMKC Conservatory artists, and a place that serves to enhance and increase access to the arts for our KC community. These renovations will allow our students to better hear and fine-tune their musicianship, and our visitors will enjoy performances that are equal to the talents of our musicians.”

Divine Nine Garden unveiled

In September 2023, UMKC’s Divine Nine Garden was unveiled. Designed to honor and recognize the nine Black Greek organizations known as the Divine Nine, this garden represents those organizations that have a presence on the UMKC campus, both symbolically and physically.

“When I reflect on my experiences as a UMKC Black Greek alum and staff member, I am proud to have been able to contribute and witness how far our university has come,” said Keichanda Dees-Burnett, assistant dean of students, director of Multicultural Student Affairs, a Divine Nine member and a UMKC alumna. “The Divine Nine Garden will serve as a space and symbol to current and future African American students at UMKC that they belong here.”

This dedicated space on UMKC's Volker campus is a tribute to the contributions and vision of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The garden is also a gathering place for students and alumni to reflect on and celebrate the achievements of their respective organizations.

Calvin Flemons, president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Delta Rho Chapter, addressed the crowd and recognized the support of the UMKC community in the garden’s creation. “I speak for us all when I say, with so much gratitude and joy, that being a part of this history at UMKC will be unforgettable. Let it be known that today and for years to come, NPHC will continue to make an impact on this campus and in our community.”

The Divine Nine opening celebration included a special exhibit, “Legacy in Bloom.” Located in the lobby of the Miller Nichols Library, and further explorable online, this exhibit honored the historic journey and experiences of the Divine Nine organization and its members. A dedicated fund assisted in the purchase of benches, plants and other items to complete the project design.

Last stop, best stop

The RideKC Streetcar line is coming to UMKC in 2025. This southern terminus of the streetcar route will connect UMKC to businesses, nightlife, restaurants and some of Kansas City’s most iconic cultural institutions — and the ride is free! The fast, no-cost transportation for the campus and community will run from UMKC to the River Market, with plans to expand to Berkley Riverfront Park, and will provide easy access to Union Station, the Crossroads Arts District, Downtown, as well as the River Market.

Though 51st and Brookside may be the streetcar’s terminal stop, plans are underway to make it the best. To capitalize on this stop at the campus’s doorstep, the university is making plans to create a pedestrian plaza. This community-focused pedestrian corridor, referred to as the "UMKC Promenade" on project renderings, will include two blocks along 51st Street — from Cherry Street to Rockhill Road.

Possible features include:

• Bollards (metal poles installed in the ground) at intersections to protect foot traffic from vehicles
• Integrated planters and street art
• Yard games and sport courts
• Cafe-style tables and chairs

“I can just imagine the transformation,” Chancellor Mauli Agrawal said. “Plantings and greenery, string lights, and places to sit and gather.”