Located in the Midwestern United States, Kansas City sits on the border between the states of Kansas and Missouri. Shanghai, situated on China’s central coast, is one of the world’s most important financial centers.

Though these cities differ significantly in size and population density, there are notable similarities in terms of architecture and urban development. Historical architecture defines each city, as does its industrial district, shipping district, and transportation centers, where repurposed and abandoned buildings stand side by side in testament to a time past.

The Jackson County Legislature has recently approved a zoning change for the repurposing of the extant John K. Stark School, located at 17th & Stark Avenue, Blue Summit, MO, into a residential re-entry facility. B+A Architecture was hired to provide preliminary design for the proposed adaptive re-use, and for the modernization and renovation of the existing building.