The lofts at 718 kansas avenue

The founders of Clayton Wealth Partners purchased the adjacent 718 S. Kansas Avenue building to ensure the long-term preservation of the distinctive white glazed masonry façade it shares with their own headquarters. The building has long been part of downtown’s evolving story, housing a movie theater, bookstore and cigar shop, and later a sandwich shop at street level, while the upper floors served variously as professional offices and apartments before standing vacant for several years.

As a contributing property within the downtown historic district, the building qualified for both state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits. Civium Architects guided the Owners through the design review and approval process with the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service, ensuring that improvements met the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards while supporting the Owners’ programmatic goals.

The glazed masonry façade remained in sound condition and was left uncleaned and unrestored to preserve its historic character. New windows were installed to improve energy performance and acoustical comfort while maintaining historic compatibility. At street level, the storefront was replaced with an energy-efficient aluminum system with insulated glazing. Kansas limestone was introduced below and around the storefront windows to provide durability and contextual richness. A generous canopy extends from the façade, enhancing the pedestrian experience and expanding opportunities for streetside dining.

The upper two floors were thoughtfully transformed into three market-rate apartments. On the second floor, two former light wells were enclosed to create additional usable square footage. Large skylights cap these areas, allowing daylight to continue penetrating deep into the building. Existing windows facing the former light wells were reglazed with frosted glass to preserve daylight while ensuring visual privacy between spaces.

Original wood flooring throughout the upper levels was carefully refinished, with new wood infill installed where required. Variations in grain and color were intentionally accepted, expressing the layered history of the building and clearly distinguishing old from new. Each apartment features newly constructed kitchens and bathrooms, and dedicated storage rooms were created in the basement to provide additional convenience for residents.

Through careful stewardship and strategic reinvestment, the project reactivates a historic downtown building while preserving the architectural character that defines its presence on Kansas Avenue.

Owner: Prairie Blaze, LLC

Size: 10,300 sf

Services provided: facility assessment, programming, architectural design, interior design, construction administration

The project received a 2018 Kansas Preservation Alliance Merit Award with Distinction for Excellence in Rehabilitation.